ix On the publication of this birthday edition, we hope that we are in better health than poor Nelson was all those years ago. We trust that the contributors to this particular volume, and equally all those who have contributed in the past, will take some pleasure in seeing this edition delivered in fine fettle. We feel happy to compare our authors to the explorers, innovators and indeed – hands across the ocean – the revolutionaries, of Nelson’s young lifetime. They deserve full praise as they are the ones who have endured the voyage, explored new territory, often as not fought or otherwise suffered for it; they have investigated and recorded it in minute detail and brought home the fruit of their labours for the benefit of all. Everyone who has contributed to this journal has done so in a spirit of good fellowship, sharing their knowledge generously with their contemporaries, as well as for posterity. Nelson’s actions – as a young man and later during his superlative career – clearly sound beyond the storm of battle and they have left us a rich legacy in human activity, impulse, endeavour and memorial. Our continuing editorial objective is to take in this broad compass of maritime research, neither to be confined solely to the minutiae of Nelson’s life, nor to dwell too long on his glorious death. The driving ambition of The 1805 Club is the conservation of monuments relating to seafarers of the Georgian era and the promotion of research into this period, and our first attentions are always to subjects that closely meet this brief. But, increasingly we aspire to consider a wider range of maritime interests, and all manner of men who served under Nelson, alongside him, or followed in his footsteps, taking inspiration from his actions. As our Chairman observes in his Address, though we may suffer the constraining effects of the tightened belt, there is a limit to which such economies can be made beyond which it turns out false. The Editors of this journal, whilst obedient to the last order that it must be delivered within a reduced budget, will not, or ever shall, see the ship spoilt for a halfpenny of tar. Therefore, this year, though we may be slimmer than in recent editions we assure you we have not economized on the quality of the contents. Again, we thank our authors for their support and we would encourage all with an interest to put pen to paper in the hope of joining the journal next year. There is little or nothing more to be said now, other than: ‘Happy Birthday to us all!’ Anthony Cross Huw Lewis-Jones
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