Nelson & His World

I was going through some local newspapers from 1933 yesterday - and spotted a little article which may be of interest.

It concerned an exhibition that was being put on in Shropshire and listed a few of the items which would be included.

One of the the items was a spinning wheel formerly owned by Lady Hamilton - to be loaned by Lord Acton.

It put me immediately in mind of the Romney portrait of Emma as a spinstress:



There's obviously no suggestion that it is the same spinning wheel but would be interesting to know if there is a current Lord Acton and if the spinning wheel is still in his family.

MB

According to wiki, the title is still extant and the holder is Richard, Gerald Lyon-Dalberg-Acton, 4th Baron Acton, born 1941. His father Richard Gerald (1907-1989) would have been the one who lent the spinning wheel. They were related to Sir John Acton, a member of a junior branch of the family, who was known to Emma and Nelson in Naples. I suppose it is not impossible that the spinning wheel came into Lord Acton's possession via Sir John.

The family seat, Aldenham Park in Shropshire, was sold in 1947, together, I shouldn't wonder, with Emma's spinning wheel.

It was the first Baron Acton, the Victorian historian, who was responsible for the famous comment:'Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.'

May I quote another one - off-topic, but topical nonetheless: 'The issue which has swept down the centuries and which will have to be fought sooner or later is the people versus the banks.'!