God send you every success; and send you home, safe and well, crowned with additional laurels! And then, I hope, you will repose your shattered frame; and make your friends happy, by staying with them.
Emma
Emma is certainly much better, but not quite free from bile.
Ever, my dear Lord, your Lordship's most attached, and eternally obliged, humble servant,
Wm. HAMILTON.
X.
Piccadilly, April 16th, 1801.
What can I say, my Dear Lord! that would convey the smallest idea of what we felt yesterday, on receiving the authentic letters confirming your late most glorious victory: and read, in your own hand, that God had not only granted you complete success against the enemies of our country; but, in the midst of such perils, prevented your receiving the smallest scratch!
We can only repeat what we knew well, and often said, before—that
Nelson was, is, and to the last will ever be, the first.
However, we all agree that, when we get you safe home once more—that you should never more risk your shattered frame.