XXXvi. THIRD SUMMER MEETING. 



or seven ships. He afterwards became Admiral Sir Thomas 

 Hardy, and ended his life as Governor of Greenwich Hospital. 

 Some number of the articles comprised in this unique and 

 priceless collection of Nelson and Hardy relics are usually 

 deposited for security in the strong room at the Bank, but 

 they had been brought out in readiness for the visit of the 

 Club, and were set on tables, or hung on the walls of the 

 house, for convenience of inspection. Perhaps earliest in 

 date was the will of Thomas Masterman of Kingston Russell 

 (1763). It was from him that Hardy got his two Christian 

 names; and it was in the line old manor house of the Bedford 

 family at Kingston Russell that he was born in the year 1769; 

 and not, as is so often wrongly stated, at Portesham, though 

 his family removed there afterwards. Amongst the pictures 

 on the walls were contemporary engravings of some of the 

 famous engagements in which Captain Hardy took part, 

 including three of the battle of the Nile. Amongst the most 

 interesting objects exhibited might be noted miniature 

 portraits of Hardy; his Nile medal; his shirts and ruffles; his 

 buckskin breeches; his Prayer Book; pieces of old cabin 

 furniture; printed playing cards; a ship's lantern from the 

 victory; some number of his letters, in one of which, dated 

 August 18th, 1805, a little more than a month after the battle 

 of Trafalgar, he writes li We fancy ourselves very unfortunate, 

 after so many anxious moments, to have missed the combined 

 squadrons. 1 ' Then there was a beautifully executed painting 

 in profile of Nelson as Duke of Bronte with the corresponding 

 portrait of the King of Naples. Hardy's portrait by R. Evans 

 was accompanied by a richly-illuminated vellum conferring 

 upon him the freedom of the City of London, on January 30th, 

 1806, and a sword of honour for which 100 guineas had been 

 voted. This was dedicated " as a testimony to the high sense 

 which this court entertains of his excellent behaviour on Lord 

 Nelson's flagship Victory on the 21st October, 1805, at the 

 memorable defeat and capture of the combined fleets of 

 France and Spain off Trafalgar." On one of the tables was 

 laid a copy of the special edition of the Times, of Friday, 



