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by Dr Pettigrew in his Memoirs of Lord Nelson, and as he was personally acquainted with Dr Budd, the correctness of his information may, no doubt, be relied upon.* She passed from his service into that of à tradesman in St James's Market; and afterwards seems to have resided some time as a kind of humble companion with a lady of fashion, whose attention had been accidentally attracted by her remarkable beauty. It was during her residence with this lady that she appears to have first had the opportunity of acquiring the rudiments of those accomplishments for which she afterwards became so remarkable.

Up to this period Emma Lyons maintained a spotless reputation. Accident and her own kindness of heart now, however, occasioned her introduction to Captain, afterwards Admiral Payne, a distinguished officer. A relation or acquaintance, a native of Wales, had been impressed in the Thames, and to Captain Payne she applied for his release. The Captain became enamoured, pressed his suit, and prevailed. She became his mistress, and retreat in such a path being next to impossible, she subsequently formed a similar connection with Sir Harry Featherstonehaugh of Up Park in Sussex.‡ We would willingly pass rapidly over this part of her life, but the tale, though sad, must be told. Few who consider what were the temptations to which she must have been exposed, the lax manners of the day, her youth, her wonderful beauty, and the delight which a girl of her mental capacity must have felt in the society of men of intellect and education, will be disposed to pass a severe judgment upon her.

It has been confidently asserted

that at this time she became connected with the infamous empiric Dr Graham; that she was the woman who, under the name of "Hebe Vestina," bore a part in his exhibition ;§ and that it was to this circumstance that she owed her introduction to Romney, and her employment as a model by Reynolds, Hopner, and other celebrated artists.

The first trace we can find of the story is just thirty-five years after the events are supposed to have occurred. In 1815, immediately after the death of Lady Hamilton, an infamous book professing to contain her memoirs appeared. After narrating the story, the anonymous biographer concludes as follows:

"While the fact of this exhibition

itself stands uncontradicted, the friends, of the female who figured in it have persevered in denying her connection with

the same.

But their zeal is more gratifying to the feelings than satisfactory to the judgment. Such a circumstance could not have been related without some foundation, and the writer of this had the whole history from a person of the highest literary character twenty-five years ago." ||

A story which rests on the assertion, after the death of the accused person, by the anonymous author of an infamous and scandalous publication, on the pretended authority of another anonymous literary character," four-and-twenty years before, and five-and-thirty after the supposed event, would hardly deserve notice, had it not obtained very general belief and wide circulation. It is not uncommon to find, when that is the case, that the very illogical course is adopted of requiring the negative to be proved, and, instead or asking on what foundation the story

* PETTIGREW: Memoirs of Nelson, vol. ii. p. 594. +Admiral Payne represented Huntingdon in Parliament. He was intimate with the Prince of Wales, and appointed comptroller of his household. He commanded the squadron which, in 1795, brought the Princess Caroline of Brunswick to England. After distinguished services under Collingwood, Lord Howe, and Lord Bridport, he was appointed Treasurer of Greenwich Hospital, where he died on the 17th November 1802.

Sir Harry Featherstonehaugh died on the 24th October 1846, at the great age of ninety-two years. He married late in life, but left no issue. The title is now extinct.-Annual Register, vol. lxxxviii. p. 298.

§ Kay's Original Portraits, vol. i. p. 36. Memoirs of Lady Hamilton, p. 43

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rests, it is insisted that it should be proved to be false.

It is seldom, of course, that this can be done, but in the present case we find about as good negative proof as can well be conceived.

Graham's exhibition began in 1780, and finally closed in 1784.* In 1783 this infamous quack made his appearance, and attempted to introduce his exhibition in Edinburgh, where he was most properly committed to the Tolbooth. The same work which contains the charge contains also the statement that Emma Lyons was sixteen at the time she arrived in London. Pettigrew's statement that she was born in 1764 is confirmed by the official entry of her death in the records at Calais, in which she is stated to have been fifty-one years of age in 1815. It follows that 1780 was the date of her employment as a nursemaid in the family of Dr Budd. How long she remained in that employment is not known, but she subsequently entered the service of a tradesman at the west end of the town; then, as we have seen, became a companion to a lady; after which, she lived successively with Captain Payne and Sir Harry Featherstonehaugh, during her residence with the latter of whom she attained great celebrity for her skill as a horsewoman and her courage in the hunting-field. This is an art not very rapidly acquired, and the fact implies a residence of one winter, at the very least, at Up Park. In the beginning of 1782 she was brought by the Hon. C. F. Greville, with whom she was then residing, and introduced by him to Romney, who then painted the very beautiful portrait (perhaps the most lovely of all his works), entitled "Nature," which is now in the possession of Mr Fawkes of Farnely. This leaves a period of barely two years between her first coming to London, when she entered the service of Dr Budd, and her being under the protection of Mr Greville,||—a period short even for the events we have narrated, and which appears to

exclude the possibility of there being any foundation for the popular story of her having been reduced to a state of abject misery, to escape from which she is supposed to have acceded to Dr Graham's proposals. We have here, too, the true account of her introduction to Romney; and coupling this positive evidence of the falsehood of a part of the story with the extreme improbability of the rest, arising from the shortness of the time, and the total absence of any evidence whatever in support of it, we consider ourselves entitled to reject the whole as a fabrication.

It is with her introduction to Romney that the public interest of Lady Hamilton's life commences. It is impossible to gaze on the face so familiar to every one, and which owes its immortality to his pencil, without feelings of deep emotion.

The charm consists not in beauty of feature, marvellous though that beauty is. There beams in those eyes, and plays around those lips, the power of fascination which, a few years later, brought princes, statesmen, and heroes to worship at her feet.

Marvellous and inscrutable are the ways by which "Providence doth shape our ends!" Had that face been less beautiful, had the heart of its possessor been less brave and faithful, had she lacked courage or promptitude,-or, strange as it may sound, had she been less frail, had she possessed fewer virtues or fewer faults-the whole course of history might have been changed, and the Nile, and even Trafalgar, have had no place in the annals of England.

It has been repeatedly asserted that Emma Harte (for such was the name by which at this time she was known) was the servant, the model, and the mistress of Romney. This story will be found, on investigation, just as groundless as the grosser one of her connection with the quack Graham. At the time of her introduction to Romney, Emma Harte was living with the Honourable C. Gre

See ARCHENHOLTZ: Tableau d'Angleterre, vol. i. p. 104; and Dr Graham's own abominable pamphlets. + Gentleman's Magazine, vol. liii. p. 711. Memoirs of Lady Hamilton, p. 24. § Life of Romney, by J. ROMNEY, p. 180. || Mr Greville died at Paddington in the month of May 1809.

ville, a young man of high family and position; she resided with him for six or seven years-his wife in everything except in legal title to the name; and his letters show that, long after the termination of that connection, he retained feelings of warm and respectful affection for her. Romney was, at this time, long past middle life. That he, like his friend Hayley, the biographer of Cowper, conceived a romantic attachment to the beautiful subject of his pencil is abundantly shown by his letters. The morbid tendencies of Romney's mind, which a few years later developed themselves into evident insanity, are well known. "The divine lady," as he calls her, was the object of sentimental and distant adoration, and never did devout worshipper pay more precious homage at the shrine of his idol. He painted as many as twenty-three pictures of her. There is but one of these pictures that even borders upon passing the bounds of modesty, and of that the head only was painted from Lady Hamilton. It is the picture of a Bacchante leading a goat. The engraving is lying by us as we write, and gazes upon us with looks of inexpressible loveliness. Many would say that it savoured of prudery when we describe this picture as voluptuous. We notice it for the sake of recording the fact, that the face alone was painted from Lady Hamilton. She was his model in the sense that it was her surpassing beauty that inspired his genius, incorporating itself with his very being, so

one,

*

that he could paint nothing but her, and present or absent her features are to be traced through all his works.*

Before we leave this part of the subject, it may be as well to notice (though rather out of place in point of time) another circumstance which has given rise to many erroneous impressions. During her residence in Italy, a work was published entitled Lady Hamilton's Attitudes. This gave occasion to a malicious insinuation in one of Gilray's caricatures. The caricature was far more popular than the original work. The slander survived the circumstance that gave rise to it. The book has become scarce, and is of very little intrinsic value; we have, however, seen a copy, and we can assure our readers that it does not contain a single figure which might not be represented with perfect propriety by the most decorous matron in Edinburgh. The figures are absolutely encumbered with drapery, Lady Hamilton's remarkable skill in arranging which, gave occasion to the work, which was published by the desire of Sir William Hamilton.

From 1782 till 1789, Emma Harte continued to reside under the protection of Mr Greville. In that year he was compelled to break up his establishment, and to make arrangements with his creditors. Sir William Hamilton prevailed upon Emma Harte to accompany him to Naples, where he had long resided as British ambassador. There she remained for two years, and in 1791 returned to Lon

The following is a list of the pictures painted by Romney from Lady Hamilton, and given in J. Romney's Life of the painter:-1. "Nature," 1782-now in the possession of Mr Fawkes; 2. Circe, painted about the same time-unfinished; 3. Iphigenia; 4. St Cecilia; 5. Bacchante-sent to Sir Wm. Hamilton at Naples -lost at sea; 6. Alope; 7. The Spinstress; 8. Cassandra-Boydell's Shakespeare Gallery; 9. Three-quarters, Straw-hat, "Emma"-Mr Crawford; 10. Bacchante-Sir J. Leicester-figure painted in afterwards; 11. Half-length, sent to Naples; 12. do. given to her mother; 13, 14. Calypso and Magdalen-Prince of Wales; 15, 16, 17. Joan of Arc, Pythian Priestess, and Cassandra-unfinished; 18. Half-length, Reading, light reflected on the face-Hayley; 19. Three-quarters, 1792; 20, 21, 22. Three-quarters, side face. Two other unfinished heads.

In addition to this list, there is a very beautiful figure called "The Seamstress," which, we believe, was painted from Lady Hamilton. She was also the original of Reynolds' celebrated "Bacchante;" and if our memory serves us correctly, of two remarkably fine full-lengths by Hopner, "The Comic Muse" and "A Magdalen," belonging to the Marquess of Hertford, at Ragley. There is a magnificent full-length, by Lawrence, in the National Gallery of Scotland, and a very lovely chalk head by the same artist, signed "Emma," in the British Museum.

don with Sir William Hamilton. The accomplishments which she had sedulously cultivated during her residence with Mr Greville, had been brought to perfection during her stay in Italy. In August 1791 Romney writes, "She performed in my house last week, singing and acting before some of the nobility with the most astonishing powers; she is the talk of the whole town, and really surpasses everything, both in singing and acting, that ever appeared. Gallini offered her two thousand pounds a-year and two benefits if she would engage with him; on which Sir William said, pleasantly, that he had engaged her for life."

On the 6th of September 1791, within a fortnight of the party at Romney's house, Emma Harte became Lady Hamilton, and thus acquired a legal title to the name by which she will be known as long as the history of England lasts.+

This terminates what may be called the first part of her career. It is that over which most doubt and obscurity prevails. We consider, however, that we are entitled, for the reason we have given, to reject altogether, as fabrications, the story of her being reduced "to the extremity of want and misery;" of her having been "a mere outcast in the metropolis;" of her connection with Graham, and of her supposed improper intimacy with Romney. These slanders originate in the abominable pages of an infamous and anonymous publication; they are not supported by one tittle of evidence; the dates show that

HAYLEY'S Life of Romney, p. 165.

it was next to impossible that the supposed facts could have occurred; and the charges are met by negative evidence, as far as the circumstances admit of such proof.

Immediately after the marriage, Sir William and Lady Hamilton started for Naples. A letter from the unhappy Marie Antoinette (said to have been the last she addressed to her sister) secured her an introduction to the Queen, who soon admitted her to the closest intimacy and most complete confidence. We find from Lord St Vincent's letters that she employed the influence she thus acquired to promote the interests of Great Britain. He distinguishes her by the title of the "Patroness of the Navy." The letters of Troubridge and Ball, and others of that gallant band who shared the glory of Nelson, show that they entertained a similar feeling. It was not long before she was enabled to perform an important service. The King of Naples had received from the King of Spain a private letter, communicating his determination to desert the cause of the Allies, and to join France against England. Of this letter the Queen obtained possession, and communicated its contents to Lady Hamilton. Sir William was dangerously ill, and unable to attend to his duties; but Lady Hamilton immediately despatched a copy of the letter to Lord Grenville, taking the necessary means for insuring its safety-a precaution which was attended with the expense of about £400, which she paid out of her private purse.§ The

The marriage is announced in the Gentleman's Magazine for September 1791 as follows: "Sir W. Hamilton, K.C.B., Envoy Extraordinary, and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of Naples, to Miss Harte, a lady much celebrated for her elegant accomplishments and great musical abilities." It is stated in Pettigrew's Memoirs of Nelson, that the marriage was solemnised at St George's, Hanover Square. This is a mistake. We have searched the register of that parish without finding any trace of it. The St James's Chronicle mentions the marriage as having taken place at Marybone Church. On examining the register of that parish, we found the entry of the marriage. It is somewhat singular that though the name of Harte is used in the Annual Register, the Gentleman's Magazine, and the newspapers of the day, the name in the register, and by which Lady Hamilton signed that document, is "Amy Lyons," the surname having been originally written "Lions," and the "i" subsequently altered into a "y." The Christian name " Amy" is distinctly written. We are not aware of any other instance in which she used any Christian name but that of Emma. The witnesses to the marriage were the Marquess of Abercorn and the Rev. L. Dutens.

Memoirs of Lady Hamilton, p. 39.

§ PETTIGREW, vol. ii. p. 610.

Ministry immediately acted upon this information, and sent orders to Sir John Jarvis to take hostile steps, if opportunity should offer, against Spain.*

Many services were performed for the English navy by Lady Hamilton during this difficult period, when French influence was so powerful at Naples as to render it dangerous for the British Minister even to appear at Court.

It was in the month of June 1798, however, that Lady Hamilton performed the act which entitles her to the lasting gratitude of all who feel pride in the glory of the British

navy.

Naples was at peace with France. One of the stipulations of the treaty was, that no more than two English ships-of-war should enter into any of the Neapolitan or Sicilian ports. Nelson was in pursuit of the French fleet, but in urgent want of provisions and water. He despatched Troubridge to Sir William Hamilton, urging upon him to procure permission for the fleet to enter Naples or one of the Sicilian ports, as otherwise he should be compelled to run to Gibraltar for supplies, and to give over all further pursuit of the French fleet. Troubridge arrived at Naples about six o'clock in the morning, and instantly called up Sir William Hamilton. They went to the Neapolitan minister, Acton. A council was summoned, at which the feeble and vacillating king presided. Their deliberations lasted for an hour and a half, and ended in disappointment. The king dared not break with France. The application was refused. But in the mean time a more powerful agent than Sir William Hamilton had been at work, and a more vigorous and bolder mind than that of the king had come to an opposite determination. The little barefooted girl of the Welsh village and the daughter of Maria Theresa of Austria had met. The time which Sir William Hamilton, Troubridge, and Acton had vainly spent in attempting to move the king, had been passed by Lady

Hamilton with the queen, who, having given birth to a son, was by the laws of Naples entitled to a voice in the State Council.+ By the most vehement entreaties and arguments, she obtained her signature to an order addressed "to all governors of the two Sicilies, to receive with hospitality the British fleet, to water, victual, and aid them." As Lady Hamilton placed this order in the hands of Troubridge, he exclaimed that it would "cheer Nelson to ecstasy!" She begged "that the queen might be as little committed in the use of it as the glory and service of the country would admit of." Nelson, on receiving it, wrote:

"MY DEAR LADY HAMILTON,-I have kissed the queen's letter. Pray, say I hope for the honour of kissing her hand when no fears will intervene. Assure her majesty that no person has her felicity more at heart than myself, and that the sufferings of her family will be a Fear not the event. God is with us. tower of strength in the day of battle. God bless you and Sir William. Pray, say I cannot stay to answer his letter. Ever yours faithfully,

"HORATIO NELSON."

Armed with this authority, Nelson entered the port of Syracuse, victualled and watered his fleet, and fought and won the battle of the Nile.

Few months elapsed before Lady Hamilton was again engaged in an enterprise requiring courage and discretion of the highest order.

The

The royal family of Naples were in extreme peril. The army had been defeated, though, as Nelson observed, "the Neapolitan officers did not lose much honour, for, God knows, they had not much to lose; but they lost all they had." court was filled with traitors, the city with ruffians and assassins. "The mind of man could not fancy things worse than they were." It was resolved by Nelson, Sir William, and Lady Hamilton, and the Queen, that the only place of safety for the royal family was to be found in Nelson's ship, and that a retreat to Palermo was necessary. Had this design

* PETTIGREW's Life of Nelson, ii. 518. Lord Nelson to Lord Spencer, 11th December.

+ PETTIGREW, p. 693. HARRISON, i. 378.

§ Ibid

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