Nelson's vindication

[PMarione]

The Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine published in January 1860 a virulent critic of the Elements of drawing (1857) by the art critic and social commentator John Ruskin (1819-1900).
In that book Ruskin was unlucky to write - comparing Nelson to Leonidas - "Nelson has the most rigid sense of duty and --- you must supply my pause with your charity".

A critic of the great Nelson couldn't be left unpunished in Victorian England. So John Paget (1811–1898), a police magistrate, author and contributor of the BM, published a passionate vindication of Nelson and Emma Hamilton conduct in Naples in the numbers of March and April.

I have added the relevant extract of the BW on the website at http://www.ageofnelson.org/Article10.html

It gives the British point of view in mid 18th century - still maintained by some today -: the great hero can't do no wrong even if it was not the opinion of his contemporaries.

In 1874, Paget's works were reprinted and a facsimile pamphlet can be bought at http://broadsidemaritime.com/nelsonandemma.html

[ionia]

It was Ruskin who said that "take it all in all, a Ship of the Line is the most honourable thing that man, as a gregarious animal, has ever produced".
_________________
Ionia

[PMarione]

Great quote.
He redeemed himself from his nasty previous writing.

[PMarione]

Nelson's conduct in Naples seems very difficult to vindicate.
I have added another controversy to the website: Mahan vs Badham
http://www.ageofnelson.org/Article11.html

Being at it, I also added Captain Foote's vindication
http://www.ageofnelson.org/Document07.html
and Giglioli's Naples in 1799
http://www.ageofnelson.org/Document14.html
that I find still the best today (in English) on the Parthenopean Republic.

@+P