London. Longman, Hurst, Rees and Orme. 1808. 4 vols. pp xxiii, errata, 307; (iv), 335; (iv), 276; (iv), 326. 8vo in 12s. Half red morocco with gilt decoration, marbled boards. Top edge gilt. Some minor foxing. All half titles present. First edition. With the bookplate of John Croft Deverell and in Volume I the bookplate of Barry Humphries, bibliophile and creator of Dame Edna Everage. Horatia N. Nelson's copy with her name inked at the top of all title pages. Horatia N. Nelson (1801 - 1881) was the only surviving child of Vice-Admiral Horatio Helson and Emma, Lady Hamilton. As her parents were both married to other people and to avoid further scandal they decided to hide her birth so they claimed she was an orphan of a sailor and that they would adopt her as they were her godparents. This worked and she was christened Horatia Nelson Thompson. It was only on Nelson's death that Horatia learnt that he was her father as he left her a letter ending 'Receive, my dearest Horatia, the affectionate parental blessing of your father, Nelson and Bronte.' She remained with her mother who never acknowledged that she was her daughter until Emma died in 1815 in France where she had fled to avoid spiralling debts as Nelson's wish that she and her daughter be cared for by the State did not happen. Horatia then lived with various members of her father's family until she married Philip Ward in 1822. She was finally recognised as Nelson's daughter with Queen Victoria herself interceding to ensure a small pension be provided to Horatia’s daughters, with a larger, publicly raised amount split between her sons in military service. Her gravestone described her as 'the beloved daughter' of Nelson. The National Museum of the Royal Navy. Garside. The English Novel Vol II p279; Summers. A Gothic Bibliography p 484.

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