NELSON'S HARDY.
Nelson's Hardy : his Life, Letters, and Friends. By A. M. Broadley and R. G. Bartelot, MA. (John Murray. 10s. 6d. not.) —This biography appeared in substance in "The Three Dorset Captains at Trafalgar." Since the publication of that volume some more of Hardy's letters have come to light, aud the story of his life can be told in further detail, There is nothing, we need hardly say, that makes us think less kindly of him, lie was one of those "whose memories to the world go down, For ever clinging to some great renown." Thomas Masterinan Hardy was a sailor who know his business to the utmost, and was as brave and loyal a man as England has over produced. It was the chance of being Nelson's Flag-Captain—not a more chance, by the way, for Nelson would have Hardy and no one else—that immortalised his name. He lives and will live in the memories of his countrymen as "Nelson's Hardy." But it must not be forgotten that he was a faithful friend in the full sense of the word "faithful." He never concealed what he felt about the lamentable wrongdoings of his chief. Lady Nelson had his fullest sympathy. There is a significant sentence in a letter describing a proposed position in Nelson's household, which offered with other advantages "a knife and fork" at the table,—he would accept according as he liked the company or not. The book gives an interesting picture, not only of the man, but also of the times and of the Service. One thing is plain enough : it was not a very lucrative profession. The account between Hardy and his agent, happily an affectionate kinsman, shows for the early years a heavy balance against Hardy. There were groat prizes now and then—so Captain Phillimore got £100,000 at one haul—but they were rare, and grew rarer as our naval supremacy was more thoroughly established. Hardy received after Trafalgar .02,389 (on August 8th, 18013), and .0973 prize-money (April 10th, 1807), not very extravagant sums, for which he bad to wait no little time. His will was sworn at under £25,000. If lie had been a more or loss honest contractor, he might have left ten times as much.
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