even the humble thistle forbidden from spreading its silken gossamers around. The foregrounds were broken by little bushes of nettles freshly springing forth; foxgloves with their pendant bells, and docks with their large wide curving leaves. No man in his arrangements understood the charm of variety better than the author of "Vathek." He avoided as much as possible repeating himself. If he admired the rarest flower he was not the less insensible to the beauties of the humblest weed; but then he never crowded them. Your mind was never surfeited.

It is to

As Prior Park was so conspicuous in the landscape immediately facing us, it was natural that the conversation should in some measure be resumed upon it. My father inquired of Mr. Beckford if he were acquainted with Bishop Baines. "Only by reputation; but I understand he is universally respected by all parties, and that he is one of the most excellent and Christian-hearted men we have about us. be lamented that in these times any of the prelates of the Protestant church should possess the bad taste to be so virulent in the pulpit. There is a reverend archdeacon not very far from me whom I understand is most warlike in his discourses against Catholics and dissenters. Oh, gracious goodness! it must be as painful to listen to this poor mistaken creature endeavouring to spit up hot coppers, as it is to hear my dog straining to get out a sneeze when it's got a cold."

The old gentleman and Mr. Beckford were discussing the merits and demerits of some of the evangelical preachers of the city of Bath, wherein there are not a few, possibly on the same principle that we find a pastrycook's shop and a druggist's dispensary usually within a few doors of each other. We almost invariably run to extremes; we're either devils or saints; but in Bath some of its inhabitants prefer mixing the two. I left the old gentlemen to finish their discourse upon such divine topics, and, if possible, what was of greater interest to me, the subject of my going abroad. I therefore rambled about with the gardener, seeking out the beauties of the spot, until there were signs of my father taking leave. Mr. Beckford said upon our going, "Well, you must come and see me before you go to Paris." We passed by a side-door into the road; we walked slowly down the remainder of the hill. It was all arranged. Mr. Beckford had

said I ought to go, and my father's respect and admiration for his opinion was so great that he did not like to urge a word against it. In a fortnight from that day I went to take my leave of the author of "Vathek." He gave me much kind advice; such as, "to take every thing patiently, to be firm and decided, and to remember that without the love of God no man was good, or could expect to be happy." As he shook hands with me he placed in mine a letter of recommendation to Lord Granville, the English ambassador then at Paris, from his daughter the Duchess of Ha

milton.

LITERATURE.

THE NELSON DESPATCHES AND LETTERS.*

IN the pages of British history there are many characters which, from their intrinsic merits, or historical associations, the national mind delights to extol; and they are each gifted with some particular excellence, or endowed with some distinguishing attraction. But whether it is that political differences swerve and distort the judgment, or that it is next to impossible for a whole nation to view any one subject in the same light, there are few of them which have not been assailed by calumny, or are not open to reproach. To this fact there is one great and signal exception. The name of NELSON, the renowned hero of Trafalgar and the Nile, is loved and revered by all classes. Endeared to us by his profession, it is ennobled by his patriotism, immortalised by his victories, and hallowed by his death.

Nelson owed his singular and unexampled success to no extraneous inOn the contrary, he had frequently occasion to complain, in the course of his life, that his services were scarcely rewarded, or were entirely overlooked. With that consciousness of superior capacity which he was ever manifesting, and which is one of the truest and most striking characteristics of genius-with a heart full of noble aspirations, and warm and generous feelings, and with a devotion to his country almost incredible; he was yet exposed, in the first and earlier stages of his career, to general mortification, injustice, and neglect. The authorities could see no merit in one who, though he seized every opportunity of acquiring distinction, possessed no advantage of family or fortune who was only conspicuous from his zeal, or notable for his worth. In vain did he sacrifice every individual comfort-in vain did he hazard health, and limb, and life-struggling through evil report and good report, by sea and land, night and day, to advance the interests, and maintain the honour, of his country; his services were still slighted, his zeal unnoticed, and his worth and genius overlooked.

It might be expected that this wonderful man, sensible of his rare and eminent merit, would have met this marked ingratitude with indignation, and have retired from the service of his country in disgust. But it was only to serve that country that he lived! The ambition of most other heroes, if we may rely on the testimony of history, has been selfish, and has had for its object personal honour and aggrandisement: Nelson's ambition was solely to serve his king and country, and to promote the honour and aggrandisement of England.

To be able to penetrate to the heart of such a glorious spirit, and view its minutest and most secret elements, must be an object of desire both to the man of arms, and to the peaceful citizen. Nelson stands alone on the stage of history; and to follow him in his progress from obscu rity, through a thousand varied difficulties, to the very summit of distinction, must be productive of the highest entertainment that history or literature can afford.

Acknowledged to be a model for heroes, how much more majestic must Nelson appear, in his personal character, as an example for individuals. Courageous and active, quick in his sensibilities, jealous of his honour,

The Despatches and Letters of Admiral Lord Nelson. Edited by Sir Harris Nicolas, G.C.M.G., &c.

ardent in his temperament, we yet see him, without any sacrifice of dignity, cool under insult, patient under neglect, forgiving under injury. To view him thus when he is aspiring, and toiling, and struggling to overcome the disadvantages of an obscure fortune-to see his young mind, from his first outset in life, gradually developing its gigantic energies, and wondrous resources to observe his ever-active spirit incessantly working out some new scheme of advantage to his country, and, above all, to observe that this unexampled patriotism springs-not from any vain feeling of nationality, but from the highest and most ennobling emotions, which are continually bowing him in adoration of the Almighty and leading him to regard his very reverses as dispensations of His mercy: to do this, is to read one of the noblest practical lessons, which the human understanding can conceive.

Exactly thirty-nine years after his death, on the very day on which his glory was consummated, a book which is to afford us this lesson was launched into the world. In the "LETTERS AND DESPATCHES OF ADMIRAL LORD NELSON," few of which have ever before been published, the most admired of heroes records his own actions, and himself submits his character for the judgment of mankind.

These letters come to us under the auspices of a name which, we doubt not, all our readers are familiar with, and which, consequently, needs no encomium of ours. Still we should be doing injustice to the distinguished editor, Sir Harris Nicolas, did we not express our entire and hearty approbation of the manner in which he has executed his task. His illustrative notes are admirable, yet have been written, as he himself tells us, on the plan of never saying more than was required. He is equally to be commended that, with all his evident love and veneration of Nelson, he has discharged his editorial duty with perfect honour. These letters are the real and veritable letters of Nelson himself-his own unmingled composition, in which he tells us, in his own words and under his own hand, what he suffered, designed, and achieved-what were his ruling sentiments, feelings, and passions-and, in one word, what was his true and actual character.

There is something solemn in the task which we propose to ourselves of reviewing and critically examining this invaluable work. However we might love or revere a departed friend, we could never look tranquilly on his features, so dear to us in life, in the terrible gloom of the grave we should know that their animation was for ever effaced, and their beauty overtaken by decay. And when we penetrate to the heart of England's favourite champion, and view his great spirit in its nakedness, we may well apprehend, from the lessons inculcated by past examples, that those features of his character which most charm us will be found to have a taint of corruption, and that the failings of the man will mar and degrade the hero.

But if such is our prepossession, the very introduction to this book, after a few preliminary observations, removes it entirely from the mind. The editor there tells us, in the exposition of his plan, that this publication will contain every letter of Nelson's that it is possible to recover, and then asks "in what other instance, strictly parallel, has this ever been done?— in how many would it be possible to do so without irreparable damage to the writer?-and to accomplish it, who would not insert a few letters which may be trivial, and a few sentences which, being the momentary effect of irritation of mind, it might perhaps be wished had never been written."

That character must indeed be pure which can bear a test so severe. Once assured that it has been applied to Nelson, we must immediately aeknowledge, what the editor fails not to impress upon us, that "this collection of letters will consequently be the completest portrait of a public character that the world has ever seen." And the very first letter that we turn to bears out and establishes this proposition. It is a letter to his brother William, afterwards Earl Nelson, informing him of his having received a commission as a lieutenant, and exhibits such a flow of warm and generous feeling that we cannot refrain from quoting it.—

Dear Brother, Navy Office, April 14th, 1777. My father arrived in town on Friday evening in tolerable good health; my sister and brother are both well, and desire their love to you. I suppose you have not heard of my arrival in England yet, but we arrived on Thursday week, but I have been so full of business in preparing to set out again, that I have not had time to write. I passed my Degree as Master of Arts on the 9th instant (that is, passed the Lieutenant's examination), and received my Commission on the following day, for a fine Frigate of 32 guns. So I am now left in [the] world to shift for myself, which I hope I shall do, so as to bring credit to myself and friends. I am sorry there is no possibility this time of seeing each other, but I hope that time will come in a few years, when we shall spend some merry hours together.

N.B. If it is not too troublesome, turn over.

Where we shall go at present, I know not, but wherever it is, I will always write to you. If you ever choose to write, inclose either to Mr. Suckling or my brother, as in all probability they will know where we are gone. I leave London on Wednesday evening, so shall always be glad to hear from you. Believing me to be, dear Brother, your affectionate brother,

HORATIO NELSON.

P.S. Pray give my best respects to my old school-fellow, H. Hammond. The gem of this letter is pointed out by the editor; but when we hear the heroic and now immortal Nelson, thus situated, say, "I am now left in the world to shift for myself, which I hope I shall do, so as to bring credit to myself and friends," we cannot resist calling attention to it especially. The hope thus expressed, on gaining the first step in his profession, perhaps indicated some undefined expectations of future greatness, which, now that a field was open to him, he was to work out and realise by his own efforts. It also affords us a glimpse of his principles; and these, on which so much depended, are more fully displayed in the next letter. It is addressed to his friend Captain Locker, then, as we learn from a note of the editor, lying sick on shore. We give the letter entire :

My most worthy Friend,

Lowestoffe, at Sea, August, 12th, 1777.

I am exceedingly obliged to you for the good opinion you entertain of me, and will do my utmost that you may have no occasion to change it. I hope God Almighty will be pleased to spare your life, for your own sake, and that of your family; but should any thing happen to you (which I sincerely pray God may not), you may be assured that nothing shall be wanting on my part for the taking care of your effects, and delivering safe to Mrs. Locker such of them as may be thought proper not to be disposed of. You mentioned the word "consolation" in your letter-I shall have a very great one, when I think I have served faithfully the best of friends, and the most amiable of women. All the services I can render to your family, you may be assured shall be done, and shall never end but with my life; and may God Almighty of his great goodness keep, bless, and preserve you, and your family, is the most fervent prayer, Of your faithful servant,

HORATIO NELSON.

This

In this letter we see revealed one of the most remarkable features of Nelson's character-we mean his veneration of the Deity. And the further we have read this book, the stronger and more settled has become our conviction, that all those great and noble qualities which its writer is continually manifesting, even in his most unguarded moments, rest on the solid foundation of religion. Yet, with this graver feeling, there is ever apparent the frank, dashing character of the sailor. is, in some instances, visible even in his public letters, but in those familiar epistles which constitute the charm of the book, and which are evidently written without the least foretought, it is revealed distinctly. The kindness and warmth of heart traceable in these letters is really admirable. As the writer, by slow gradations, mounts higher and higher in his profession, he seems more to develop this characteristic, and we begin to see the greatness of his soul, in the loftiness of his feelings. When captain of a ship, he speaks of his midshipmen, who appear to have been originally far from tractable, as his "children;" and the account furnished in a note of the manner in which he treated them, shows that he was indeed their father.

In the light, gossiping letters to his brother, mingled with all the news he can collect, there are occasional touches of feeling and tenderness which appeal irresistibly to the heart. We would wish to corroborate this assertion by an example, but our limits unfortunately preclude us from such a gratification, and we pass to one of those charming letters which, in the full tide of a pure and ardent love, he addressed to Mrs. Nisbett, afterwards his wife :

Boreas, English Harbour, 11th September, 1785. Indeed, my dear Fanny, I had buoyed myself up with hopes that the Admiral's schooner would have given me a line from you: but the tidings she brought of the release of poor Mrs. Herbert, from this world, sufficiently apologise for your not thinking of an absentee. Yet this believe from my heart, that I partake in all the sorrows you experience; and I comfort myself, that however great your grief at this moment may be, at losing a person who was so deservedly dear to you, as your good aunt; yet, when reason takes place, you must rather have pleasure in knowing she is released from those torments she has undergone for months past. Time ever has, and in the present instance I trust may have a tendency to soften grief into a pleasing remembrance; and her unspotted character must afford you real comfort. Call religion to your aid, and it will convince you that her conduct in this world was such as insures everlasting happiness in that which is to come.

I have received a letter from Mr. Herbert, in answer to that which I left at Nevis for him. My greatest wish is to be united to you; and the foundation of all conjugal happiness, real love, and esteem, is, I trust, what you believe I possess in the strongest degree towards you. I think Mr. Herbert loves you too well not to let you marry the man of your choice, although he may not be so rich as some others, provided his character and situation in life render such an union eligible. I declare solemnly, that did I not conceive I had the full possession of your heart, no consideration should make me accept your hand. We know that riches do not always insure happiness; and the world is convinced that I am superior to pecuniary considerations in my public and private life; as in both instances I might have been rich. But I will have done, leaving all my present feelings to operate in your breast :-only of this truth be convinced, that I am, your affectionate,

HORATIO NELSON.

P.S. Do I ask too much, when I venture to hope for a line? or otherwise I may suppose my letters may be looked on as troublesome.