England's Mistress by Kate Williams

Author:Kate Williams
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780307484291
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2006-02-11T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 31

The Battered Hero

I feel myself highly honoured and flattered by your ladyship's charming letter," enthused Earl St. Vincent, Nelson's commander, to Emma in May 1798. "The picture you have drawn of the lovely Queen of Naples and the royal family, would rouse the indignation of the most unfeeling of the creation, at the infernal designs of those devils, who, for the scourge of the human race, are permitted to govern France. I am bound by my oath of chivalry to protect all those who are persecuted and distressed." Luckily, he had a "knight of superior prowess in my train, who is charged with this enterprize, and will soon make his appearance."1

St. Vincent was not by any stretch of the imagination a gallant man. That same year he was waging a bitter war against women on British ships for wasting clean water on laundry (Nelson tactfully diverted his attention to more important matters). Emma's carefully constructed letter persuaded him that the ships at Toulon were intended to attack Naples. They were wrong: the armament was intended for Egypt. But the die was cast: Nelson, the "knight of superior prowess," was sent to Emma in Naples.

"I cannot describe to you my feelings on your being so near us," exulted Emma to the knight on his way. She enclosed a letter of the queen's in which "with her whole heart and soul she wishes you victory," and flirtatiously instructed him to "kiss it, and send it back."2 Coyly, Nelson replied that he hoped to be "kissing her hand" soon.3 Her request for British help coincided with Nelson's decision to fight Napoleon in the Mediterranean, and he was eager to reach Naples. On the way, however, he heard that Bonaparte was heading for Egypt, and he changed his plans to set off in hot pursuit. He sailed so fast that he arrived before his prey; rather than wait, a sitting target, he turned the ships around and headed back to Syracuse in Sicily to restock with food and water. When he attempted to enter, however, the governor refused him entry, believing that Ferdinand's kingdom was still keeping to the treaty with the French. Nelson wrote to Sir William for help, and Emma sent him a deeply sympathetic letter while encouraging Maria Carolina to press her husband to order the governor to allow Nelson to take the supplies he needed. The queen and Emma together were successful. Bulging with food and drink, Nelson's Vanguard and the ten other ships left Syracuse and sailed once more for Egypt.

On the night of July 28, Nelson and his company shattered the French fleet off the coast of Alexandria at Aboukir Bay. In what came to be known as the Battle of the Nile, nine ships were taken, two were sunk, and only two escaped. “Victory,” Nelson declared, “is not a strong enough name for such a scene as I have passed.” He instructed Sir William to “communicate this happy event to all the courts in Italy.” Emma immediately wrote to Maria Carolina, who declared herself “wild with joy.

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