England's Mistress_ The Infamous Life of Emma Hamilton - Kate Williams [187]
No doubt others received similar letters. Fifteen thousand pounds was more than the property was worth, and Queensberry was already juggling half a dozen houses. He knew that Emma's letter, in which she first asked for £15,000 and then an extra £100, would set off even more demands. Merton remained on the market, seldom viewed other than by curiosity seekers, still requiring to be cleaned and maintained, swallowing more money every day.
In January, Earl Nelson's son, Horace, Viscount Trafalgar, died of tuberculosis. William and Sarah were devastated at the death of their heir and favorite child. William Nelson's title and honors would now pass to the Boltons' eldest son, Thomas. Bereft of his male heir, the earl's hatred of Emma and Horatia increased to fever pitch.
Emma claimed to Queensberry that she wanted only to keep her portraits of Sir William, Nelson, and Maria Carolina. The magnificent days of the tria iuncto in uno were gone forever: Sir William was buried next to his wife in Pembrokeshire, Nelson was the possession of the state in St. Paul's, Maria Carolina was a virtual prisoner of Napoleon, and the glamorous star of the Palazzo was a struggling debtor, owing well over a million in today's money. There was no way she could survive. She would never be able to remarry: a husband was legally responsible for his wife's debts, and very few men could pay off such a large amount. It seemed futile to save a few shillings when there were thousands outstanding. Only a grand gesture could save her. Emma began to despair. She fell ill with a form of jaundice in October and decided to write her will. She hoped in death to win the share of the glory that had eluded her in life.
If I can be buried in St Pauls I shou'd be very happy to be near the glorious Nelson whom I Loved & admired and as once Sir William Nelson and myself had agreed we shou'd all be burried near each other, if the King had granted him a publick funeral this would have been that 3 persons who were so much attached to each other from virtues and friendship shou'd have been laid in one grave when they quitted this ill natured slanderous world. But tis past and in Heaven I hope we shall meet.
Realistically, Emma knew that burial in the crypt was reserved for military heroes, and so she requested to be buried next to her mother, although she hoped that "she will live, and be a mother to Nelson's child, Horaria." Still deluded about the value of her house, Emma appeared to think that the sale of the house alone, excluding the furniture or effects, would cover her debts and leave her with enough to provide for Horatia and Mrs. Cadogan.
I beg that Merton may be sold and all Debts paid & what ever money shall be left after all Debts paid I give to my dear mother and after her death to my dear Horatia Nelson. I aliso give all that I am possessed of in this world to my dear mother Mary Doggin or Cadogan for her use & after her death to Horatia Nelson I give them all my ready money, plate, linen, pictures, wearing apparel, household furniture, trinkets, wine in short every thing I have in the world to my mother during her life & after her death to my Dearest Horatia Nelson.7
She asked George Rose to care for her mother and Horatia, and hoped that when he died, his son would "do me this last favour to see justice done to Nelson's Daughter." Still cherishing fond memories of the Christmas visit, she begged "the Prince of Wales, as he dearly loved Nelson, that his R. Highness will protect his child, and be kind to her; for this I beg of him, for there is no one that I so highly regard as his Royal Highness. Also my good friend