Never, perhaps, was a greater panegyric pronounced on any human being,
than that which is comprised in the motto to this biographical account
of Admiral Lord Viscount Nelson, delivered from the lips of the
Sovereign who had experienced his worth; and who, with a noble
gratitude, deigned thus publicly to acknowledge, and record, the
transcendent heroism of his Lordship's meritorious services: heroism and
services, the recollection of which, His Majesty generously anticipates,
must not only exist for ever in the memory of the people; but, by
continually stimulating future heroes, prove a perpetual source of
strength, security, and glory, even to the country itself. A reflection
worthy of a King! Inciting to heroism, by the consideration of a more
enlarged motive than seems to have been heretofore sufficiently
regarded; and thus entitling himself to participate the very praise he
is so liberally bestowing. The expressive voice of gratitude is thus,
sometimes, surprised by a similar unexpected but grateful echo; and the
rays of royalty, beaming with their fullest lustre on a brilliant
object, are in part reflected back to their source.
The general history of the world, to almost every part of which the
influence of Lord Nelson's services may be considered as having in some
measure extended, must most assuredly preserve the remembrance of one of
it's chiefest heroes; and the future historian of our own country, in
particular, will not fail exultingly to dwell on each of his Lordship's
great and glorious victories, with all the animated and enegertic glow
of conscious dignity and truth.
Still, however, we are desirous to know more of so exalted a character
than any general history can with propriety supply. We wish to see him
not only as a hero, but as the hero of a respectable historian; and are
anxious, with a laudable zeal, for such minuteness of detail, in the
developement of every circumstance, not only relative to his public and
professional character, but even to his private and domestic
transactions, as is to be alone expected from what may be denominated
the more humble labours of the biographer: who, nevertheless, must not
be permitted to boast much of extraordinary humility, if he pretends to
combine, in a single picture, any tolerable portion of that sublime
grandeur, and that delicate simplicity, which constitute the Iliad and
the Odyssey of literature.
To produce a work not altogether unworthy the hero whose life it
records, is the utmost that his present biographer can reasonably hope
to accomplish. Even this, he freely confesses, he must have despaired of
ever effecting, had he not been indulgently honoured by the kindest
communications from some whose near affinity to the immortal
Nelson, is evidently more than nominal; who not only have the
same blood flowing in their veins, but whose hearts possess a large
portion of the same unbounded goodness, generosity, and honour: as well
as from other dear and intimate friends, professional and private, who
were united to his Lordship by the closest ties of a tender reciprocal
amity.
Encouraged by such generous aids, the author may be allowed to boast
that he has, at least, a considerable store of novelties to offer: it
will be for the public to judge, on perusing the work, how far he has
succeeded in making a suitable arrangement of the excellent information
acknowledged to have been thus bountifully and benignantly afforded him.
Particular acknowledgments will be seen in the preface, to such of the
family and friends of Lord Nelson as may have generously assisted the
researches of the author; the number of whom are likely, from obvious
circumstances, to be considerably augmented during the progress of the
work.
It may seem scarcely necessary to add, that the preface, though always
placed, as the very name imports, at the beginning of a book, is usually
the last part printed.
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