The Dispatches and Letters of Vice Admiral Lord Viscount Nelson

he did not hesitate to risk his Commission, by taking upon him the greatest responsibility an Officer can incur, yet, with a proper sense of discipline, he submitted, without remonstrance, to the reproof of his Superiors.

Since the publication of the second Volume of this Work, the Editor has obtained additional materials of great value. It will be perceived that the authority for most of the Documents now printed, is LORD NELSON'S "Letter-Book," or "Order-Book,"-manuscript volumes, containing a full copy of all his public, and of many of his private Letters, and of every Order issued by him. These important Manuscripts, together with a very large collection of Letters and other Papers, (of a similar kind to those entrusted to the Editor by Lord Bridport, and referred to as "the Nelson Papers,") are in the possession of the Right Honourable John Wilson Croker; and he not only begs leave to offer Mr. Croker his warmest thanks for the service which he has conferred upon the Public, by placing those Documents at the Editor's disposal, but he desires to express his deep sense of the frankness and kindness with which the favour was conferred, and his gratitude for many valuable suggestions.

Another important accession is a collection of very interesting Letters from LORD NELSON to the late Right Honourable Hugh Elliot, when Minister at the Court of Sicily, for which he is indebted to his son, the Reverend Gilbert Elliot.

To Lady Egerton, wife of Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Bulkeley Egerton, G. C. M. G., and daughter of

the most esteemed and most loved of all NELSON'S Companions the late Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Troubridge, Bart.,—the Editor is under much obligation for permission to make extracts from the Journal of the late Miss Knight, daughter of Rear-Admiral Sir Joseph Knight. Miss Knight, whose literary works are wellknown, and who was afterwards Preceptress to Her Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte of Wales, lived many years at Naples and Palermo, when LORD NELSON was there, and came to England with him and Sir William and Lady Hamilton, in 1800. Her Journal contains many anecdotes which she heard of him, as well as what she herself either knew, or was told, of passing events.

He likewise begs leave to offer his best acknowledgments to Admiral Sir Edward Codrington, G.C.B., to Rear-Admiral Browne, to Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Malcolm, to Rear-Admiral Thomas, and to his friend. Peter Smith, Esq., for Letters or information, communicated in the most obliging manner.

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