LETTERS Tiddles's life and times
Sir: Jeffrey Bernard in his letter (Letters, 1 December) refers to Nelson's cat Tiddles, who was present at the battle of Trafalgar. The subject, which is of some interest, has been unjustly neglected by naval histo- rians.
Discovered as an abandoned kitten in the courtyard of the Palazzo Sessa, the British Embassy in Naples, in March 1797, Tiddles was taken in and adopted by the kind-hearted Emma Hamilton. He fre- quently participated in her celebrated `Attitudes' in the role of the Nemean Lion, and soon became a firm favourite not only of the ambassadress but also of the schem- ing Queen of Naples, Maria Carolina, whilst his mouse-hunting talents received the grudging admiration of King Ferdi- nand, thereby facilitating the aims of Brit- ish diplomacy.
Returning with the Hamiltons and Nel- son to England in 1800, his hopes of retirement from a diplomatic career were dashed when, in an emotional scene in May 1803, Tiddles was entrusted by Lady Hamilton to Nelson, and entered in the crew list of HMS Victory as Admiral's Servant. His second career, at sea, was even more brilliant than his previous di- plomatic success. Tiddles's sang-froid dur- ing the battle of Trafalgar merited the approbation of all his shipmates, and although initially disconsolate at the death of his patron, his spirits were revived by the kindness of Captain Hardy, who arranged for his transfer to HMS Amphion, whose gallant captain, William Hoste, was the one officer in the fleet who could guarantee an adequate supply of his favourite Norfolk dumplings.
Promoted to Boatswain's Mate, Tiddles sailed with Hoste on both his successful Adriatic cruises, displaying his now legen- dary coolness under fire at the battle of Lissa, only to fall victim to a stray shot at the siege of Trieste in 1813. A handsome monument to his memory was erected in the Protestant cemetery of that city, which survived until 1924, when it was destroyed by Mussolini, a noted ailurophobe.
Guy Evans
137 Blackheath Park, London SE3
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