signature, having apparently been mistaken for Baron.
In Suvorof's postscript, the phrase, "Palerme n'est pas Cithère," is evidently an allusion to Nelson's liaison with Lady Hamilton, who was then with him at Palermo. The last sentence is one of those apocalyptic fragmentary sayings of Suvorof, the sense of which it is difficult to ascertain. The letter of Nelson, which has lost its envelope, is written in a very original but plain and even script, much better than could have been expected from a man obliged to use his left hand. Whether Nelson felt offended at the reference to Lady Hamilton, or repented of the sudden whim which led to his letter, the correspondence was never continued; indeed, Suvorof died in the following May.
One word about spelling. Russian names, when translated into a foreign language, should always be written as they are pronounced, and then they will be pronounced correctly, and the fewer letters the better. Suvorof (which has the accent on the first o) was made by the Germans into Suwarrow, and I have seen it written so in English. Indeed, he himself, like many other Russians, used the German w instead of the French v.
| Letter from Nelson to Suvarof. |
| Palermo, Novbr. 22, 1799. |
| My Dear, Dear Prince and Brother — there is not that man in Europe who loves You equal to myself. All admire Your Great and Glorious atchievements, as does Nelson, but he loves You for Your despising of Wealth, as it may stand in the way of Your duty, for being indeed the faithfull servant of Your Sovereign, in this alone I presume to claim the dear name of Brother, I know that my atchievements are not to be named with Yours. But the Bounty of my own Sovereign, that of the Emperor of Russia and His Sicilian Majesty and the Grand Signor, have loaded me with honors and wealth, in these joined to You we show an example to the World that fidelity will be amply rewarded. This day has made me the Proudest man in Europe. I am told by a person who has seen You for many years that in our statue, persons and manners We are more alike than any two people ever were. We are certainly relations, and I entreat that You will never take from me the Dear Name of Your Affectionate Brother and sincere Friend, |
Bronte Nelson.
|
| Prince Sowarow Rymnisky, etc. |
| Answer of Suvorof. |
| Prague, ce 1 | 12, Janvier, 1800. |
| Mon cher Baron et frère! Si jamais souvenir m'est précieux, c'est bien celui d'un Amiral du premier mérite comme Vous. En considérant votre portrait, j'ai effectivement trouvé de la ressemblance entre nous deux; on pourra done dire que les beaux esprits se rencontrent et que nos idées se sont croisées. C'est une distinction de plus pour moi, dont je suis bien charmé; mais plus encore de Vous ressembler du coté de Votre caractère.
II n'y a pas de récompense, men cher Amiral, dont Vos mérites éminents ne Vous rendent pas digne et à laquelle Votre frère et ami ne prend la part la plus vive. Jaloux de conserver ce titre, ainsi que Votre amitié, qui porte l'empreinte de la sincerité, je Vous prie de vouloir continuer à me donner de Vos nouvelles et de croire à la plus parfaite réciprocity de mes sentiments pour Vous, avec lesquels je suis à jamais Votre affectionné frère et sincere ami (manu propria) Victoire, Gloire, Prospérité pour la nouvelle année. |
| Prince Alexandre Italieiski, |
| Comte Suworow Rymnikski. |
| P.S. Je vous croyais de Malte en Egypt e pour y écraser le reste des surnaturels athées de notre tems par les Arabes! Palerme n'est pas Cithère. Le magnanime Souverain est pour nous. Au reste, illustre frère, que ne donnés Vous pas au monde pour Iris des Aboukirs! Bon an! Bon siècle! |
| P. A. It. |
British Marbles. — Why our native marbles should so long have been neglected by architects is one of the mysteries of fashion. They were known — that of Ipplepen, in South Devon, indeed, was prized — more than two hundred and fifty years ago, but in most cases they were till the other day scarcely used at all for building-purposes. The shelly limestone of Purbeck (far inferior as "marble" to many of the Devonshire kinds) is almost the only exception. It was, we all know, much valued by the mediæval church-builders. The black marble of Bakewell has always found a market. Alabaster, too, which occurs in the new red sandstone, had its day; Burton-on-Trent was famous for it, and the taste for "confectionery work" in monuments kept alive the demand for it all through the Stuart period. But, in general, British marbles have been chiefly worked into knickknacks for tourists, who, in Derbyshire, like to have a letter-weight of "duke's red," or an inkstand inlaid with "all sorts," and who in Devonshire must, of course, carry off a polished fragment of the breakwater. Till lately the ambition of our marble-workers hardly soared above chimney-pieces. Here and there may be found a memorial church into which nothing but English marble enters; but, on the other hand, you may readily find a reredos, just put
