66 " Nelson was a Good Fly-Fisher" 



and a pulse at ninety-six. ... I know not 

 what my fate will be." In another pathetic 

 entry he says : " Dubito fortissime restaura- 

 tionem meum, as I have so often alluded 

 to the possibility of my dying suddenly, 

 I think it right to mention that I am too 

 intense a believer in the Supreme Intelli- 

 gence, and have too strong a faith in the 

 optimism of the system of the universe, 

 ever to accelerate my dissolution. The 

 laurel water, therefore, which I have car- 

 ried about with me, and used constantly, 

 and from which I have decidedly derived 

 benefit, is a prescription of Tomasini's ; 

 and the laudanum and opium which 

 are in my dressing-case, but which / 

 have never used, were recommended to 

 me in small doses to remove irritation, 

 taken with purgatives. I have been, 

 and am, taking a care of my health, 

 which, I fear, it is not worth ; but 

 which, hoping it may please Providence 

 to preserve me for wise purposes, I think 

 my duty." 



His reference to "duty" reminds me 

 that, in his Salmonia, Sir Humphry says : 

 " Nelson was a good fly-fisher, and, as a 

 proof of his passion for it, continued the 

 pursuit even with his left hand. I have 

 known a person who fished with him at 

 Merton, in the Wandle. I hope this cir- 



