Nelson to Lady Hamilton, 26 August [1803] (Harrison I, supplement 175; not in Nicolas, with excisions, possible crossed out words underlined: 'My dearest beloved Wife­towards you and our dear ­ girl, the first fruits of our unbounded affection, our dear excellent good Lady Hamilton is the only one who knows anything of the matter, and she has promised me when you are in the services again­and you will certainly be with child again from the first moment­ My wife in the Eye of God and My children, talk will damm you, Lady Hamilton she will tell you­

Nelson expresses his utmost love and affection towards Emma and their daughter Horatia. He writes that he is incapable of wronging Emma in thought, word or deed. No amount of wealth can buy him, for he is reserved wholly for her. His thoughts of happiness at their reunion make his blood fly into his head and he expects their meeting to produce another child. Nelson also tries to reconcile these strong emotions with his duty to his country. He writes that he would feel disgraced if Emma saw him as a reprobate abandoning the call of his country. His heart is with Emma, but he promises to return as a victor and to transmit an unsullied name. What his soul holds most dear is to save his country, his wife in the eye of God, and his children. When all is right he will only think of their happy meeting. He is only hers for ever, well beyond this world.