CURRENT LITERATURE
NELSON'S WIFE By E. M. Keate
Many authors have written at large about Nelson's mistress, Lady Hamilton, but Mr. Keate is apparently the first bio- grapher of Nelson's wife, the pretty young widow whom he married at Nevis in 1787 (Cassell, 125. 6d.). Frances Herbert Woolward, born in the island in 1761, was the daughter of the senior judge and niece of J. R. Herbert, President of the Council, and a wealthy planter. She was married at eighteen to a Nevis doctor, Josiah Nisbet, who took her to England, and died there in 1781, leaving her a widow with one son. Fanny returned to Nevis, and there in 1785 met Nelson, then commanding the frigate Boreas,' and charged with the en- forcement of the Navigation Act against foreign shipping. When he seized four American ships, writs were issued against him in the local courts. President Herbert took his side, and the case was dropped. Two years later Nelson married the President's niece; the bride was given away by Prince William, afterwards William IV, who was serving under Nelson. Nelson took his bride home to Norfolk, and appears to have lived happily with her when he was ashore until he met Lady Hamilton at Naples in 1798. It is made clear that the wife tried to hide the ensuing scandal, and to regain Nelson's affec- tions, but she parted with him in 18o1 rather than associate with his mistress. Her son, who served under Nelson as a very youthful post-captain, naturally took his mother's part. Lady Nelson survived her husband, and seems to have been greatly respected by his old friends. Her side of the story was worth telling, and Mr. Keate tells it dispassionately.
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