Nelson & His World

I have a catalogue (sadly unillustrated) of the loan collection of Nelson relics exhibited in 1928 to raise funds for the restoration of HMS Victory. With one or two exceptions, all the exhibits were private possessions of the Nelson-Ward family, passed down by Horatia, and loaned for the exhibition, so their authenticity is pretty well guaranteed, I think. Some of them I have never heard mentioned elsewhere, such as:

Exhibit 113: Lace cap worn by Lord Nelson as a baby

Exhibit 139: Needlecase with picture of HMS Victory on the cover, made by Horatia.

Exhibit 155:Pair of belt Pistols belonging to Admiral Viscount Nelson; those carried with him when, as a Midshipman, aged 14, he was serving under Captain Lutwidge, in the Arctic Seas, and was discovered between 2 o'clock and 4 o'clock in the morning alone on the ice with a Polar bear, and when recalled and reprimanded for absence, remarked that he wished to obtain the skin for his father.


(Most accounts say he had an old musket and was accompanied by another boy.)

Exhibit 162: Case of three tea caddies given to Admiral Viscount Nelson by his Father, in memory of his Mother, inscribed: 'To my son, Horatio, on his being made Post Captain of HM ship Hinchinbrooke, this his Mother's tea caddy is affecionately given him for daily use. Burnham Thorpe, 18 June 1779'.

The catalogue also lists the miniature of Lady Hamilton by Bone, now in the Wallace Collection, but at the time owned by Nelson Ward Esq. The entry notes that there is a lock of Lady Hamilton's hair on the back. Is it still there, I wonder?

There is the French grammar (exhibit 65) that Nelson inscribed when he began his attempt to learn French, mentioned in several biographies, and also (exhibit 66) a Spanish grammar with 'Captain Nelson' on the front page, written with his right hand. Is it well known that Nelson attempted to learn Spanish? After his failure with French, he deserves full marks for perseverance and optimism!

There are also various things connected with Lady Hamilton such as a scarf 'used in her Attitudes', and embroidered silk from one of her dresses: in view of Horatia's complicated relationship with Emma, it is interesting that she retained some of her possessions and passed them on the family members.

Anna,

Very interesting, though I think this is the first I have read that the young Nelson had pistols with him during the polar bear hunt.

As you say, most accounts of the incident and the well-known painting, leave one with the impression that he was armed only with a musket – and that he attempted to use the butt end of it when it misfired. There is no mention of his drawing pistols. As you also mention, most accounts say that he was accompanied – and I can't think that, even Nelson would have been foolhardy enough to go out on such a risky escapade on his own.

I have never heard that Nelson tried to learn Spanish, but I suppose it was a possibility.