To these tributes of esteem from a grateful country, must be added, as by no means the least acceptable, the proof of affectionate regard prepared for their beloved commander, by those most honourable and brave associates in arms, the captains of his own squadron, whom he so emphatically denominates, "the band of brothers." By these worthy and valorous officers, was their revered chief, the Hero of the Nile, presented with a magnificent sword; the hilt of which most appropriately represented a crocodile, very finely executed in gold.
To enumerate the various epistolary plaudits and congratulations, and other demonstrations of admiration and applause, expressed by individuals, in England, of all ranks, to the hero and his friends, on account of this most splendid victory, is quite impracticable. The following extract of a letter, however, written by the worthy and venerable father of the immortal hero, to his friend the Reverend Mr. B. Allot, in answer to a very kind congratulatory epistle from that gentleman, is so exquisitely and amiably characteristic both of father and son, that it cannot, under any consideration, be omitted. It is, indeed, a charming picture of parental and filial affection.
"My great and good son," says this excellent and intelligent parent, "went into the world without fortune; but, with a heart replete with every moral and religious virtue. These have been his compass to steer by; and it has pleased God to be his shield in the day of battle, and to give success to his wishes to be of service to his country. His country seems sensible of his services: but, should he ever meet with ingratitude, his scars will cry out, and plead his cause—for, at the siege of Calvi, he lost an eye; at Teneriffe, an arm; on the memorable 14th of February, he received a severe blow on his body, which he still feels; and, now, a wound on the head! After all this, you will believe, his bloom of countenance must be faded; but the spirit beareth up, yet, as vigorously as ever. On the 29th of September, he completed his fortieth year: cheerful, generous, and good. Fearing no evil, because he has done none: an honour to my grey hairs; which, with every mark of old age, creep fast upon me."
While these various honours and gifts were preparing for the hero, in his native country, foreign nations, not less sensible of his worth, and in some instances scarcely less benefitted by his exertions and valour, were emulously pouring, with a laudable profusion, their richest presents before him, and investing him with their most distinguished dignities.
On the 8th of September, immediately after receiving information of the battle off the Nile, the Grand Signior directed a most superb diamond aigrette—called, by the Turks, a chelengk, or plume of triumph—taken from one of the imperial turbans, to be sent for our victorious admiral, with a rich pelisse of the choicest sable fur; and a purse of two thousand sequins, in cash, to be distributed among the wounded British seamen. A note, at the same time, was delivered to Mr. Spencer Smith, his majesty's minister at Constantinople, of which the following is given as a correct translation.
"It is but lately that, by a written communication, it has already been made known, how much the Sublime Porte rejoiced at the first advice received of the English squadron's having defeated that of the French, off Alexandria, in Egypt. By recent accounts, however, comprehending a specific detail of the action, it appears now more positive, that his Britannic majesty's fleet has actually destroyed, by that action, the best ships the French had in their possession. This joyful event, therefore, laying this empire under an obligation, and the service rendered by our much-esteemed friend, Admiral Nelson, on this occasion, being of a nature to call for public acknowledgment, his imperial majesty, the powerful, formidable, and most magnificent Grand Signior, has destined as a present, in his imperial name, to the said admiral, a diamond aigrette, and a sable fur with broad sleeves; besides two thousand sequins, to be distributed among the wounded of his crew: and, as the English minister is constantly zealous to contribute, by his endeavours, to the increase of friendship between the two courts, it is hoped that he will not fail to make known this circumstance to his court; and to solicit the permission of the most powerful and august King of England, for the said admiral to put on, and wear, the said aigrette and pelisse."
These presents were conveyed, under the care of Mahomet Kelim, an Effendi, or secretary of state, in a Turkish frigate, to Alexandria; from whence, on finding the hero had departed for Naples, the Effendi, and his suite, immediately followed, in the Alcmene frigate. The Turkish secretary, and his twelve associates, on their arrival, performed their parts with suitable solemnity and address. They put on their state robes in the hero's anti-chamber; and presented the aigrette, seated on cushions, after the oriental method. The pelisse was composed of the finest scarlet cloth, lined and enriched with the most beautiful sable fur imaginable. The aigrette, which is a sort of artificial plume, or feather, represents a hand with thirteen fingers, covered with diamonds; allusive to the thirteen ships taken and destroyed by the hero: and it's size is that of a child's hand, at the age of five or six years, when open. The centre diamond, and the four by which it is surrounded, are estimated at a thousand pounds each, and there are said to be at least three hundred diamonds of smaller sizes. This immensely rich and beautiful jewel is more particularly described in the following extract of a letter, said to have been written by the Grand Signior himself. In this letter, it it called, a chelengk, or plume of triumph: such as has been, on every famous and memorable success of the Ottoman arms, conferred on victorious Mussulmen, Seraskiers—"never, before, I believe," says the imperial writer, "on any disbeliever—as the ne plus ultra of personal honour, separate from official dignity. The present is esteemed rich in it's kind; being a blaze of brilliants, crowned with a vibrating plumage, and a radiant star in the middle, turning on it's centre, by means of watch-work which winds up behind. This badge, actually taken from one of the imperial turbans, can hardly, according to the idea of such insignia here"—(the letter was dated, at Constantinople, October 3, 1798)—"be considered as less than equivalent to the first order of chivalry in Christendom: such, at least," concludes the imperial donor, "was my view in the indication."
By these remarks, added to the verbal communications of Mahomet Kelim, at the time of investiture, Lord Nelson was led to consider this honour as the Ottoman Order of Merit. It could, certainly, be nothing less; and the civilized world has to felicitate itself on the brilliance of our immortal hero's glory, which could, at length, dissipate the cloud of prejudice, that had so long obscured, from the sincerest followers of Mahomet, the lustre of every Christian virtue.
Even the Dowager Sultana, mother of the Grand Signior, caught the enthusiastic admiration of our hero from her generous and illustrious son, and sent his lordship the superb and flattering present of a very rich diamond ornament, in the form of a rose.
No sooner were the honours conferred on our hero by the Grand Signior, and his wish respecting the wearing them, made known to his majesty, than the imperial desire was immediately complied with, and the following royal grants and concessions were also published in the London Gazette—