Amidst much that was coarse, and more that was exaggerated,
there was still some foundation for the remarks of the
Attache.

"You arrogate a little too much to yourselves," I observed,
"in considering the United States as all America. At the
time these brilliant deeds were achieved, which this
monument is intended to commemorate, the Spaniards owned
a very much greater portion of the transatlantic continent
than you now do, and their navy composed a part of the
hostile fleets which were destroyed by Lord Nelson. At
that time, also, you had no navy, or at all events, so
few ships, as scarcely to deserve the name of one; nor
had you won for yourselves that high character, which
you now so justly enjoy, for skill and gallantry. I agree
with you, however, in thinking the monument is in bad
taste. The name of Lord Nelson is its own monument. It
will survive when these perishable structures, which the
pride or the gratitude of his countrymen have erected to
perpetuate his fame, shall have mouldered into dust, and
been forgotten for ever. If visible objects are thought
necessary to suggest the mention of his name oftener that
it would otherwise occur to the mind, they should be such
as to improve the taste, as well as awaken the patriotism
of the beholder. As an American, there is nothing to
which you have a right to object, but as a critic, I
admit that there is much that you cannot approve in the
'_Nelson Monument_.'"