Welsh Journals

NELSON REMEMBERED HELEN HALLESY By the time this edition of Minerva reaches its audience, Britain will be in the midst of commemorating the bicentenary of one of history's greatest heroes and battles the victory of Nelson at Trafalgar. The battle was one of the most decisive ever fought at sea, culminating in destroying the French as a maritime power and restor- ing British Naval supremacy. Born in the village of Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk in 1758, it was here that, as a young boy out looking for bird's nests, and becoming lost for several hours, Nelson was asked by his family when found, if he had ever felt fear when alone. The young child replied, 'Fear? I never saw it what is it?' Anecdotes of Horatio are in plentiful supply, and many writers have paid tribute to the Nelson legend or phenomenon in endless titles and publications, many studies founded on diaries, original letters and personal documentation. He found public fame not only for his qualities of leadership in gaining victories against the Spanish and French, but also for his notoriously unusual, but amicable, ménage-à-trois relationship, when living with the Hamiltons at Merton, in Surrey. His defiantly public affirmation of his personal affair with Emma attracted much attention and there were times when his memory suffered at the hands of the biographers. Yet, after 200 years, he survives as a complex but outstandingly caring hero, human and fallible. Nelson caught the public's eye as early as 1797 his exploits at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent brought him public distinction and popular acclaim, but undoubtedly it was his Naval career over the next seven years, at the Nile and Copenhagen, which was to bring him the title of Britain's Greatest Naval Hero. News of his fearless, victorious command of the British fleet on October 21st 1805, which resulted in his death at Cape Trafalgar, was felt in England 'as something more than a public calamity, men started at the intelligence, and turned pale, as if they had heard of the loss of a dear friend' Reports trickled in to Swansea slowly, and it was not until the Saturday edition of Nov. 9th, that The Cambrian newspaper announced, With mingled emotions of joy and sorrow, we present our readers with the official details of a decisive Victory over the combined fleets, achieved by Britain's darling son, the ever-to-be-lamented, Lord Nelson.