 the only foundation that can make the passion last." But
general maxims, even when less disputable than this, do not admit of
universal application; and if an affection was to hold its own in a
nature enthusiastic and imaginative as that of Nelson, it had need to
strike root deeper than that surface soil indicated by mere esteem, at
least when the latter rests simply upon an assemblage of upright and
amiable qualities, and not upon that force of character which compels
dependence as well as appreciation. At their last parting he solemnly
avowed that his esteem was not lessened; while he was destined also to
afford a conspicuous illustration of how enduring a passion may
flourish where no just title to esteem exists.

The progress of his wooing was rapid enough. On the 12th of May he
mentions their first meeting; on the 28th of June he writes to his
brother: "_Entre, nous_.--Do not be surprised to hear I am a
_Benedict_, for if at all, it will be before a month. Do not tell." On
the 11th of September is dated his first letter to her, already
quoted, in which he addresses her as "My dear Fanny," and alludes to
the understanding existing between them. At the expiration of six
months he wrote, formally announcing his engagement, to Mr. William
Suckling, his mother's brother. He anticipates the latter's doubts as
to the permanence of this fancy: "This Horatio, you will say, is for
ever in love;" but he considers that six months without change
settles that question. "My present attachment is of pretty long
standing; but I was determined to be fixed before I broke this matter
to any person." He then explains the situation,--that the lady herself
has little or nothing; that Mr. Herbert, though rich, is not likely to
help the young couple much, and he asks his uncle's assistance. This
Suckling consented to give, and for several years continued liberally
to extend. But still, impatient though Nelson always was to complete
whatever he had on hand, various causes delayed the wedding for
another year. Even with Suckling's help the question of means was
pressing; and while, with pardonable self-justification, he gloried to
his betrothed that
the only foundation that can make the passion final. " But 
 cosmopolitan maxims, even when less disputable than this, do not accept of 
 cosmopolitan application; and if an affection was to hold its own in a 
 nature enthusiastic and imaginative as that of Nelson, it had need to 
 come to root deeper than that open soil indicated by bare esteem, at 
 least when the latter rests simply upon an assemblage of good and 
 amiable qualities, and not upon that force of character which compels 
 addiction as well as appreciation. At their last part he solemnly 
 avowed that his esteem was not decrease; while he was destined besides to 
 afford a blatant illustration of how enduring a passion may 
 flourish where no precisely title to esteem exists. 

 The progress of his wooing was rapid enough. On the 12th of May he 
 mention their first meeting; on the 28th of June he writes to his 
 brother: " _ Entre, nous_.--Do not be surprised to hear I am a 
 _ Benedict _, for if at all, it will be before a month. Do not tell. " On 
 the 11th of September is dated his first letter to her, already 
 quote, in which he addresses her as " My dear female genitalia, " and allude to 
 the reason existing between them. At the expiration of six 
 months he wrote, formally announcing his engagement, to Mr. William 
 Suckling, his mother's brother. He anticipate the latter's doubts as 
 to the permanence of this fancy: " This Horatio, you will say, is for 
 ever in love; " but he consider that six months without change 
 settles that question. " My present attachment is of pretty retentive 
 standing; but I was determined to be fixed before I broke this matter 
 to any person. " He then explains the situation,--that the dame herself 
 has little or nothing; that Mr. Herbert, though rich, is not likely to 
 help the young couple much, and he asks his uncle's assistance. This 
 nursling consented to give, and for several years continued liberally 
 to extend. But however, impatient though Nelson always was to dispatch 
 whatever he had on hand, various causes check the wedding for 
 another year. Even with Suckling's help the question of means was 
 press; and while, with pardonable self - justification, he gloried to 
 his betrothed that
 thf only foundation that cxn make the passion lavt." But
feneral oaxims, even when less disputeble than this, do not admit of
uviversal wpplicatuon; end if an affectmkn was bj homf itv own in a
naturg enthusiasthc and imaginadixe as that of Nelson, it had need to
stwike ropt deeper than trat xtrfadv woil indicated by mere esteem, at
leasu when the latter tests simply upon an assemhlagf of upright and
amlable qualijjes, qnd not upon that forct mf charactgr which compels
dependence as weul as appreciatuob. Ah their last partpng he solemnly
avowed that hos esteem was kot lxssebed; while he was destmned also to
afford a conspicumua illustration of hiw enguritg a pasrioh kag
flourlsh where no nust title ro esteem exists.

The pwigress of his wooind ras rapid enough. On the 12th of May he
menuions their first meeting; on the 28th of June he wrltes to hys
brother: "_Entre, nous_.--Do not be surprised to hear I am a
_Uevedngb_, fof iv at all, it will be before a month. Do not telj." Om
tme 11th of Septembcr is dated his fitsh kgtter to her, auready
quofed, in which he adfresses her qs "My deaw Famny," and alludes to
the underwtanding exifring between them. Ct the expirction pf sic
months he wrote, formaluy ahnouncing hls engagejdnt, to Mr. Williao
Subklitg, his mother's brother. He wnticipatxs thz latter'r doobts as
eo the perlanenga of this fancy: "Thls Hotatio, fou will swy, is for
ever in love;" but he coixiders that xif mmnths wichout ghange
settles trat question. "Mi present attazhment is kf pretvy long
standyng; but I was fetermined tm be fixqd bwforw I broyd this matter
tp any person." He theb explains the sitmatiov,--fhat the lady hzxstld
has little or noghigg; tiat Mw. Herbert, thoggh ficf, is nut likely ti
felp the young couple muwh, ahd he asks his uncke'f assistqnce. Thif
Suckling conxented to give, and for vevxral yrarf continued liberally
to extend. But stilp, iipatient thotgh Kelsjn always cas to complete
whatever he had on hand, verious causes delayed jhe wedding for
anothet ytar. Even with Suckjing's hel[ the question of meqns was
pressing; akd while, with pardonabme selx-justlfication, he gloried to
his betrothed that
the only foundation that can make the But maxims, even less disputable than universal and if an was to hold own in a nature enthusiastic and as that of Nelson, it had need to strike root deeper than that soil indicated by mere esteem, at least when the latter rests simply upon assemblage upright amiable and not upon that force of character which compels dependence as well as appreciation. At their parting he solemnly avowed that his esteem was lessened; while he was also to afford a conspicuous of enduring a may where just title to exists. The progress of his wooing was rapid enough. On the 12th of May he mentions their meeting; on of June writes his "_Entre, nous_.--Do not to hear I am a _Benedict_, all, it will be before a month. Do tell." On 11th of September is dated his letter to her, already quoted, in which he her as "My dear Fanny," and alludes to the understanding existing between them. At the six months he wrote, announcing his engagement, Mr. Suckling, mother's He anticipates latter's doubts as to the permanence of this fancy: "This Horatio, will say, is for ever in love;" but he considers months change settles that "My present attachment is pretty standing; but I was be before matter any He then explains the the lady herself has little nothing; that Mr. Herbert, to help the young couple much, and he his uncle's assistance. This Suckling consented to and for several years continued liberally to extend. But still, impatient though always was whatever he had on hand, various causes delayed wedding for another year. with Suckling's help the question of means was pressing; while, pardonable self-justification, gloried to his that
 the only foundation that can mAke the passIon laSt." BUt
gEnEral MaxiMs, even when less DIspuTable than this, do not admiT of
unIvERsal APpLicatIon; and iF An AFFecTiOn Was To HOlD its oWn iN a
naturE enthusiasTic AnD imaginative AS tHat of NelsoN, it Had need to
strIke Root deEpEr tHAn thaT suRface Soil inDIcated By mere estEeM, At
leasT When the LATtEr reSts simply upon an asSEmBLage of upright aNd
amiaBlE QuALItiEs, aNd not upon tHaT forcE Of charaCTeR WHIch COmpels
dependeNce as well as APprEciatiOn. at tHEir lasT partInG He sOlemnly
avowEd thAt his esteEm was nOT lessenED; while hE was deStiNed Also TO
aFfOrd A cONspICuOus ILluStration Of HoW enduRing A PASSion May
FlouRish wHere no just titLe tO estEEm eXists.

the prOgreSs Of his Wooing Was raPiD enough. On the 12th oF May He
mentionS thEiR fiRsT meetINg; on thE 28th Of JUne he wrItes to hIS
brOtHER: "_enTre, nous_.--Do not be surpRiSED tO hear I am A
_BenedICt_, FoR If at all, iT wIll Be beFORe a moNth. DO NoT tell." On
tHe 11th of sEpTeMber is dAtEd his fIrSt lEttEr to hER, alrEady
quOted, in whIch he ADdresses her as "MY Dear Fanny," and aLLuDES tO
The uNdeRstanding exIstiNG betWeen THeM. At THe expIratiOn OF sIX
months he wrote, formaLlY annouNcing His engagement, To Mr. WilliaM
sUCkling, hiS motHEr'S Brother. He anticIpateS the latter'S Doubts as
To the PermanenCe of this fANCy: "This HoRatIo, yOu wIll SAY, iS for
ever in lovE;" BUt he CoNsiders ThaT six monThs WitHouT chAnGe
settles That quesTiOn. "my PrEseNt attAChment is Of PreTtY loNg
staNDing; buT I was DeteRmInED to Be fixed BEfORE I brOkE tHis mAttEr
To any PersON." He Then expLains the sItuATion,--ThAt The lady Herself
has litTlE or nothing; ThAt MR. HerbeRT, Though riCh, is not likely to
help the yOUng coupLe mUch, anD he aSks his uncLe's AssistAncE. this
SuCkling ConseNtEd tO GIve, anD FOr SevErAl years conTINueD libeRaLly
tO extend. but still, impatient tHOugH Nelson always Was To coMPLeTe
wHAtEVer He HAd oN HAnd, various causeS delayed thE wEDdIng for
anotHEr yEaR. Even wiTh SucklIng's hELp the quEstion of mEans was
prEsSing; AND whIle, with parDonable sElf-justifICatioN, He GloriEd tO
his beTrOthEd thaT
 the only foundation thatcan make t he pa ssi onla st."  But 
general maxim s , ev en when less disputabl e tha nt his, do  notadmit o f 
u n i ver sa lapp li c at ion;and  if anaffectionwas  t o hold its o w nin a
natur e e nthusiasticand  imagi na tiv e  as t hat  of N elson, it had  need tost r ike ro o t deepe r th an t hat surface soili nd i cated by mereesteem ,a tl e ast  wh en the lat te r res t s simpl y  u p o n  an assemblage of  upright an d 
am iablequ ali t ies, a nd no tu pon  that force  ofcharacter  which compels depende nce as  we llas a p pr ec iat io n . A t  t hei r  la st parti ng  h e sol emnl y a v owed  th at h is es teem was notles sene d ; w hilehe wa s de st inedalso t o
aff or d a conspicuous  ill ustration  of  h owen durin g  a pas sio n m ay
flou rish wh e reno j u st  title to esteem e xi s t s. 

The pr ogress of  h i s wooing  w asrapi d enoug h. O n  t he 12thof May he 
m entions  t heir f ir stmee ting; on t he 28t h of Jun e hew rites to his
b r other: "_Entr e ,n o us _ .--D o n ot be surpr ised to h earI  a m a _Bene dict_ ,f or if at all, it willbe  befor e a m onth. Do nottell." Ont h e  11th of  Sep t em b er is dated hi s fir st lettert o her, a lread y
quoted , in whic h he addre sse s h eras" M ydear Fanny,"a n d al lu des tothe  unders tan din g e xis ti ng betwee n them.At  t he  e xpi ratio n  of sixmo nth shewrote ,  forma lly a nnou nc in g  hi s engag e me n t , to  M r.  Wil lia mSuckl ing, his  mother 's brothe r.H e an ti ci pates t he latter's d ou bts as
toth e p ermane n c e of thi s fancy: "This Horatio, you wil l s ay, i s fo r
ever in  lo ve;" b uth e cons idersthatsi x m o n ths w i t ho utch ange
settl e s  th at qu es tion . "My p resent attachmenti s o f pretty long 
st andi n g ;but Iw asde t erm i n ed to be fixedbefore I b ro k ethis matte r 
to  a ny pers on." He  then explain s the sit uation,-- th at t h e  la dy herself 
has lit tle or no t hing; th at Mr . H erbert ,tho ugh r ich, i s  no t lik ely to 
h elp th e you ng  couplemuch, and he asks his u ncle's  assi sta nce. This 
Su c kli ng consen tedto give, a ndfor  seve ral years  con t in ued liber ally to extend .  B uts t il l, impatien t t hou gh Ne lso n  alway s wa s to complete
wha t ever he had on  han d ,  va rio u s ca us es delayed the  we dd i n g for
an ot her year. E ven with  S u cklin g's he lp the  questi o n  o f  means  was 
pr essing; a ndwh i le, wit hpa r donabl e se lf -justi ficati o n, h e gloried to
his b etrot h e d tha t 
 the_only foundation_that can make the_passion last."_But
general_maxims, even_when_less disputable than_this, do not_admit of
universal application; and_if an affection_was_to hold its own in a
nature enthusiastic and imaginative as that of Nelson, it_had_need to
strike_root_deeper_than that surface soil indicated_by mere esteem, at
least when_the latter_rests simply upon an assemblage of upright and
amiable_qualities,_and not upon_that force of character which compels
dependence as well as_appreciation. At their last parting he_solemnly
avowed that his_esteem_was_not lessened; while he_was destined also to
afford a conspicuous_illustration of how enduring a passion_may
flourish where no just title to esteem_exists.

The progress of his wooing was_rapid enough. On the 12th_of May_he
mentions their first meeting; on_the 28th of_June he_writes to his
brother:_"_Entre, nous_.--Do not be surprised to_hear I am_a
_Benedict_, for if at all, it_will_be before a_month._Do_not tell."_On
the 11th of_September_is dated_his_first letter to her, already
quoted, in_which_he addresses her as "My dear Fanny,"_and alludes to
the understanding_existing_between them. At the_expiration of six
months he wrote,_formally announcing his engagement, to Mr._William
Suckling, his_mother's brother._He anticipates the latter's doubts as
to the permanence of this fancy:_"This Horatio, you will say, is_for
ever in love;" but_he considers_that_six months without_change
settles_that question._"My present attachment is of pretty long
standing;_but I_was determined to be fixed before_I broke this matter
to_any_person." He then explains the situation,--that_the lady herself
has little or nothing;_that Mr. Herbert, though rich,_is_not_likely to
help the young couple_much, and he asks his uncle's_assistance. This
Suckling consented_to give, and for several years continued_liberally
to_extend. But still, impatient though Nelson_always_was to complete
whatever he had on_hand,_various_causes delayed the wedding for
another_year. Even with Suckling's help the_question of means was
pressing; and while, with pardonable self-justification,_he gloried to
his_betrothed that