A LINK WITH NELSON

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 932, 27 September 1910, Page 9

A LINK WITH NELSON

.The engagement/which has just been /announced between the Hon. Alfred Nel,'son Hood and Miss . Gavegin brings to mind-the;fact fhat the prospective' orideI'gropm is a great-grand-nephew of Admiral 'Lord Nelson, says':' "JI.A.IV ■ Ho. is also a brother of the\Hon. Alexander Nelson Hood, the - Comptroller of the - Queen's Household, who owns the : historic N Castle of Maniaces,,upon; the slopes of ■ Mount Etna, rwhere are..Measured Lord Nelson's , correspondence ■ with. Lady Hamilton and with nil the'famous rulers, leading statesmen, -and : diplomats: of : his day. . . " , ' Although. Castle Maniaces, with • its historic monastery, ■ and its vast lands, and vineyards, , was bestowed upon the famous hero / of; Trafalgar; by ' King : Ferdinand, along ;With a generous annuity, it is" a curious fact , that the recipient never once set foot upon his Sicilian property. His heirs, ; however, have spent a considerable sum of money, in. restoring the castle and in rebuilding and developing the wine industry, which now brings in a considerable revenue. In addition to the famoW Nelson relics which' fill the castle, there is a , famous and historic painting hanging over' the altar iiv the adjacent cha'iiel, of the Virgin and Child, which was discovered by the present owner hidden away in,the castle.