16th September 1805
TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ.
Victory, September 16th, 1805.
Off Portland, Wind W.S.W.
My dear Davison,
I regret most exceedingly, for many reasons, my not having had the pleasure of seeing you; but my fate is fixed, and I am gone, and beating down Channel with a foul wind. I am, my dear friend, so truly sensible of all your goodness to me, that I can only say, thanks, thanks: therefore I will to business. I wish I could have been rich enough, with ease to myself, to have settled my Account with you; but as that is not done, I wish for my sake that you would have it closed, and receipts pass between us; and then I will give you a bond for the balance, as for money lent. These bonds relative to Tucker, being all settled, should be returned to me. Be so good as to give them to Haslewood. If you and I live, no harm can happen; but should either of us drop, much confusion may arise to those we may leave behind. I have said enough. Haslewood will settle the Account with all legal exactness.
I have requested you to pay Chawner’s account for work to be done in his line; and what is ordered, viz. the kitchen, ante-room, and for altering the dining-room, which you would have been provoked to see spoiled. The alteration will cost three times as much as if it had been done at first. However, Chawner now knows all my plans and wishes. Poor blind Mrs. Nelson I have given 150 l. to pay her debts, and I intend to pay her house-rent in future, in addition to the 200 l. a year, which I take with my grant of 400 l. a year. I wished also to talk with you respecting my Proxy, for as it passed through your hands without an immediate communication with Lord Moira, so it should have returned that way. I ever was against giving my Proxy to any man, and now I have it again, it will probably never be given again. Lord Moira made me break my intention; and as very few can equal our friend for honour and independence, it is not very likely that I shall give it, without strong reasons, again.
With every good wish, believe me ever, my dear Davison, your most obliged and faithful friend,
NELSON AND BRONTE.
I have settled Chawner’s account for all which has been hitherto done at Merton.
