JET. 28.] MISSION TO PORTUGAL. 347 



a gun, lie said he could sleep close by it and not be 

 awakened by its firing the morning and evening gun 

 that is, after he had been, as he called it, several 

 days afloat. I have continued writing after he turned 

 in, as he phrased it, and this about eight or nine 

 o'clock : when I asked how early he intended to get 

 up, he would say, "At eleven or twelve," meaning 

 that after three or four hours he would be up and 

 working. He never paid the least regard to time, but 

 was most exact in requiring all under him to do so. 



He often mentioned his peerage, and one day 

 said, " See that desk \ I chucked the patent into it 

 when it came out after the 14th of February, and 

 would not even open it, knowing its contents by 

 letters received." Some time after came the letter 

 remitting the fees and perquisites, which he consi- 

 dered a necessary part of the honour, for no man cared 

 less about money ; and then he opened it, and took 

 his title. 



In his great dining-room, where he could have 

 above sixty at table, it was observable that Nelson's 

 dirge was always played by the band on great occa- 

 sions, and I well remember that the tears stood in his 

 eye, hating as he did all displays of feeling. He never 

 mentioned Nelson's name without emotion, and would 

 have been inexpressibly hurt had he lived to see those 

 letters which Lady Hamilton so basely published, and 

 in which Lord St Vincent, and indeed every person 

 mentioned, except Sir William and Lady Hamilton, are 

 attacked, though never any one more venerated another 



