Ever obedient to your _lawful_ commands, I have implicitly obeyed your
orders, in the purchase, this morning, of Messrs. Branscomb and Co.
four quarter lottery-tickets--

{ No. 593.}
{ 10,376.}
{ 14,381.}
{ 20,457.}

Each, I hope, will come up prize; and be entitled to receive, at
least, on the whole, twenty thousand pounds! I paid eighteen pounds
eight shillings for them; and I have written upon the back of
each--"_Property of Lord Nelson, 22d September 1804. A.D."_

When I have the pleasure of seeing you, I shall deliver the trust over
to you, to receive the _bespoken_ said sum of twenty thousand pounds.
What a glorious receipt will it be!

I am glad you received my letters, though I could not make out the
name of the place; the Post-Office runners are expert at it.

What do you say to a Spanish war? I think, now, the breeze begins to
freshen; and that the flames, _at last_, will succeed.

I sent off, last night, a very long epistle to our dear Nelson. I am
truly distressed at his not receiving my letters; though I can
pretty well guess how to account for it, and in whose hands they were
detained. Experience teaches us how better to guard against similar
misfortunes; and, in future, I shall be cautious to whom I give my
letters.