The party reached Oxford the first day, being Wednesday, the 21st of July; where, by appointment, they were met by Mr. and Mrs. Matcham, with their eldest son, George Matcham, Jun. Esq. The Oxonians received his lordship with great joy; and, on Thursday, the freedom of the corporation was presented to Lord Nelson in a gold box, by Richard Weston, Esq. mayor of that city, who addressed his lordship, on the occasion, in a very respectful speech; and Lord Nelson expressed, in the warmest and strongest terms, his high sense of the honour, and his earnest wishes for the happiness of the city, and the prosperity of the public service. On Friday morning, in full convocation, the university not only complimented Lord Nelson, and his friend Sir William Hamilton, with the honorary degree of LL.D. but liberally admitted his lordship's brother, the present earl, who had already taken his degree of D.D. at Cambridge, ad eundem—that is, to the same honour in Oxford. Lord Nelson, and Sir William Hamilton, were severally presented by Dr. Blackstone, Vinerian Professor of Law; and the Reverend William Nelson, of Christ's College, and Doctor of Divinity in the University of Cambridge, by Dr. Collinson, Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity. Nothing, in short, could surpass the respect experienced by his lordship and friends at Oxford; from whence, highly gratified, they the same day proceeded to Woodstock, with an intention of viewing Blenheim.
It might have been expected, that his Grace the Duke of Marlborough, himself descended from a British hero of the first class, and inhabiting a magnificent palace, the honourable boon of his country, would have joyfully availed himself of the opportunity thus afforded by the presence of a man certainly not inferior to his own heroic ancestor, so near as even at Oxford, and politely requested the honour of entertaining such a guest. This, however, had not been done; and Lord Nelson, with his friends, put up at an inn in Woodstock; from whence they went to Blenheim, as strangers, for the purpose of viewing the internal attractions of art, in that grand but ponderous national pile. The family never made their appearance; but sent a servant with refreshments, which Lord Nelson proudly refused. As the duke was at home, his lordship thought, no doubt, that he ought, at least, to have come forward. Sir William Hamilton said that, if the shade of the Great Marlborough could arise, he would have done the honours to the victor of Aboukir, a greater victor than himself! Lady Hamilton finely remarked—with a spirit and energy forcibly depicting the grand character of that superlative mind which renders her, at once, the idol and idoliser of transcendent genius and valour—that "the splendid reward of Marlborough's services, was because a woman reigned, and women had great souls: and I," says her ladyship, for these are her own matchless words, "told Nelson that, if I had been a queen, after the battle of Aboukir, he should have had a principality, so that Blenheim Park should have been only as a kitchen garden to it! The tears came into his eyes, and he shook Sir William and me by the hand; saying, that he was content to have done his duty by the country, and the people, that he loved, and he hoped we should ever approve his conduct; but that, yet, he had not half done, for there were two or three beds of laurels in the Mediterranean to be gathered."
It was in this way, that these exalted friends of their country, and of each other, consoled themselves on all occasions, where they met with any of that incivility or ingratitude, which few persons of eminent worth fail to experience in the world. That the Duke of Marlborough should have come forward, and welcomed the hero to Blenheim, cannot well be disputed; but his grace, who is said to be of a shy and retiring disposition, could not, it seems probable, prevail on himself to forego the ceremonials of introductory etiquette, and might thus give considerable offence to his lordship and friends, without intending them the smallest personal disrespect.
The party, next morning, set off for Gloucester, where they were received with the usual demonstrations of joy, by all ranks of the inhabitants. The bells were immediately rung; and multitudes eagerly crouded before the King's Head Inn, to view the hero who had atchieved so much for his country. During the party's short stay, they visited the cathedral, and the county prison, with both of which his lordship expressed himself highly pleased; particularly, with the extent and convenience of the latter, and the described system of it's internal regulations. On Sunday morning, Mr. and Mrs. Matcham, with their son, returned to Bath; while his lordship, and the remainder of his party, proceeded to Ross.
They entered this town amidst bell-ringing, and the acclamations of the people; and, after breakfasting at the Swan Inn, where horses had been ordered to convey them to Monmouth, finding they might be accommodated with boats, and preferring the excursion by water, for the sake of viewing the beautiful scenery on the banks of the Wye, they walked through the beautiful gardens belonging to Walter Hill, Esq. to the banks of that river, attended by a vast number of people, who decorated the boat provided for his lordship and friends with laurels, and exhibited every other demonstration of respect and joy.
It was no sooner known at Monmouth, that the party were making this excursion down the Wye, than its shores were lined with spectators, and the river covered with boats; and, when those accompanying his lordship appeared, shouts of joy burst forth, and the guns on the celebrated Kymin were fired. At landing, they were received by the corporation, who had come out to meet them, and by whom the hero was complimented in an appropriate address; for which, as well as for the recent honours conferred on him, in making him a burgess of their ancient borough, together with his friend, Sir William Hamilton, and enrolling his name among the illustrious chiefs in the Kymin Naval Temple, he returned his most heartfelt acknowledgments. They were preceded, on their way into town, by the bands of the Monmouth and Brecon militia, playing "God save the King!"—"Rule, Britannia!" and other popular tunes. After dinner, his lordship paid his respects to Thomas Hollings, Esq. the mayor; and then walked out in the town, for the purpose of viewing whatever seemed worthy of notice, constantly surrounded by innumerable spectators, all anxious to behold the hero, and pay him their tributary acknowledgments. His lordship being engaged, for next day, at Crickhowell, with his friend Admiral Gell, was under the necessity of declining the kind invitation of the mayor and corporation, to dine with them on Monday; but promised to pass a day at Monmouth on his return, of which they should have previous notice.
After spending the day with Admiral Gell, they went on to Brecon, where the joy of the people surpassed all description. The deputation of farmers was affecting. They said, addressing the hero—-"My lord, you have saved us. While you was losing your limbs, and shedding your blood, for us, we slept soundly with our wives; and our lands, and children, were protected by your brave vigilance. Accept our thanks; these tears will tell you that we feel!" and the men wept like children. The town was illuminated; and one man exclaimed—"Now, I could die in peace; I have seen our saviour, and brave defender!"
Nothing particular occurred to the party, after leaving Brecon, till they arrived at Milford; where the hero of the Nile, and his friends, were received with enthusiastic rapture. Sir William Hamilton had not, for many years, visited his numerous tenants; and they were proud to behold their paternal friend leagued in so strict an amity with the first hero in the world. Sir William was delighted to see his dear friend at Milford, and to shew him off to every body; and every body was charmed with the pleasing affability of the illustrious hero. Lord Nelson often mentioned his progress through South Wales to Milford, as an affecting contrast of the genuine enthusiasm of natural character, to the cold expression of ministerial approbation by which his reception had been marked on his return from the Mediterranean, when Lord Keith was sent to take the chief command of the fleet in those seas. The corporate towns, villages, nobility, and gentry, on the line through which his route was directed, vied with each other to detain him, that their neighbours might participate in the joy they felt on the arrival of the hero. In many places, it was not possible to avoid their generous importunity; and these kind attentions, which so honourably testified national gratitude, were accepted, by his lordship, as the most gratifying recompences of his public service.
The 1st of August being made the great day at Milford, the Honourable Mr. Greville had invited all the nobility and gentry of the county of Pembroke to welcome the hero and his friends at this intended annual festival. A rowing match, fair day, and shew of cattle, were established for ever at Milford, in honour of the victory off the Nile. All the most respectable families twenty miles round, with a prodigious concourse of the humbler classes, came to see their beloved hero. Mr. Bolton, his lordship's brother-in-law, too, determined to be present on the occasion, arrived at Milford, that very morning, from Norfolk. It proved, all together a most interesting scene. After dinner, Lord Nelson, with admirable address, gave "Captain Foley!" as his toast: a friend and brother officer, he said, than whom there was not a braver or a better man in his majesty's service. He had been with him in all his chief battles; deserved to participate in every honour; and was, his lordship had the pleasure to add, in that respectable company, not only a Welshman, but a native of the county of Pembroke. It need scarcely be added, that this toast, so honourable both to his lordship and Captain Foley, and so gratifying to the principality and county, was received, and drank, with the most rapturous delight. At this public meeting, they had also the high satisfaction to hear, from his lordship's lips, the result of his judicious observations on the matchless harbour which that county embosoms. Lord Nelson had fully examined it's entrance, and its qualities; and now declared, that he considered Milford Haven, and Trincomale in the East Indies, as the two finest harbours he had ever beheld. The obstacles which had hitherto impeded the employment of so important an appendage as this to the empire, appeared merely artificial, and would speedily be removed when once fully known. The rapid results of individual exertion had already, in fact, proved this, by bringing the mails to the water-side, rendering the custom-house shore accessible to ships of burden, and establishing daily packets to and from Ireland; so that nothing more was now wanting, to render Milford Haven, projecting into and separating the St. George's and the Bristol channels, the only safe sea-port on the west coast of Great Britain for commerce, as well as a port of refuge and of call: but, when viewed in relation to Ireland, it became the central port of the empire; particularly, as a bonding port. The American settlers, by their character and ability, had been enabled to send eight ships to the South Seas, and thus established the whale fishery. He had, himself, he acknowledged, supposed that the danger and natural defects of this port justified the official prejudice which, since the year 1757, has been attached to Milford Haven; but, the fortifications being now properly abandoned, as incapable of defending the harbour, the qualities of the port, stated in the petition of British merchants, and in the report of the Committee of the House of Commons, he had, on his own view, ascertained to be correct. He applauded the wise measure of Earl Spencer, to improve naval architecture at Milford; and was of opinion that, to apply, with oeconomy, the supply of timber on the sides of the Severn, for the purpose of building ships on the draughts of Mr. Barralleer at Milford, would do honour to the earl's views, and benefit to the service. He had critically examined the ships on the slips; and declared, that they ought to be models, of their class, for the British navy. Mr. Barralleer, an ingenious French ship-builder, who quitted Toulon, on it's evacuation by our forces, was well known to Lord Nelson. He had been fourteen months on board Admiral Goodall's ship; and his observations, during all that time, in British practice, had perfected Mr. Barralleer's principles of construction. At his lordship's suggestion, this ingenious naval architect has since prepared draughts for the largest classes of ships, the usual defects of which had been pointed out by Lord Nelson, and are there effectually remedied. The high tides of Milford Haven, it's vicinity to the forest of Dean, and the dock-yard being exempt from those interruptions by repairs to which Portsmouth and Plymouth must ever be devoted during war, are circumstances which, his lordship remarked, ought to render Milford Haven of the greatest use. Earl Spencer, indeed, had established the utility of the situation; and Mr. Barralleer, aware of prejudices among workmen who are required to deviate from their accustomed methods, had the precaution to initiate young natives of South Wales in his own modes of construction, and thus contrived to raise a sufficient number of able artificers. As to the practical use of Milford Haven, for the king's service, it was only requisite that it should be known; and for the commander of the channel fleet to give notice, that he considered Milford Haven as a port where he would detach some of his ships to victual and water: for, as his lordship observed, before Earl Spencer ordered ships to be built at Milford, not the smallest assistance could be obtained; and, indeed, what ship would go thither, while the agent-victualler resided in Bristol, and had no store for salt provisions at Milford?—which was, then, actually the case. Such obstacles, once noticed, must immediately vanish; and he would himself recommend the trial, if in command. It had been said, there were not sufficient pilots; but, his lordship observed, there soon would be, if the arrival of ships sufficient to maintain them might be reasonably expected. In short, the port of Milford was adapted to become of the greatest importance to Great Britain, not only in a naval and commercial view, but as an excellent position for packets to the westward. It would be particularly convenient, his lordship remarked, for single ships to go down channel, and rendezvous at Milford Haven, from whence they might at any time put to sea; either for the purpose of going off Brest, or stretching for the West Indies, when it was impossible for whole fleets to clear the channel, where they were now not unfrequently detained as long a time as would be requisite to make the whole voyage. Adverting to the example of his esteemed friend, Captain Foley, as a native of Pembrokeshire, his lordship remarked that, if government would only continue a fair encouragement to the port, the officers, the seamen, and the artificers, of the county of Pembroke, it could not fail to effect important services for the nation. His lordship concluded with observing, that he felt so happy at beholding such public benefits combined with the objects established on his friend Sir William Hamilton's estate, by prudence of plan, unremitted perseverance, and with small means, under the judicious arrangements of the Honourable Mr. Greville, that he would, if not on service, promise to return, as often as it should be in his power, to join them in celebrating the annual festivity thus established: and hoped that what he now publicly said, or had previously stated in private to his friends while surveying the port, would be remembered, for they were genuine truths; and he had already actually written to the minister, that he was in perfect admiration of this fine neglected port. Such is the substance of Lord Nelson's observations with regard to Milford Haven; the remembrance of which will, no doubt, long be cherished in the grateful bosoms of all who had the honour to hear him.
Sir William Hamilton left a fine whole-length picture of Lord Nelson, which had been painted at Vienna, to be preserved, for the perpetual gratification of visitors, by the occupier of the New Hotel, where his lordship and friends resided while at Milford.