In 1813, the year that he was appointed Poet Laureate, Robert Southey published "The Life of Nelson". Horatio, Lord Viscount Nelson was Britain's greatest Naval hero who had been killed during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 during which he had issued that famous message to the fleet; "England expects that every man will do his duty."In a preface to the first edition, Southey wrote: "Many Lives of Nelson have been written; one is yet wanting, clear and concise enough to become a manual for the young sailor, which he may carry about with him till he has treasured it up for example in his memory and in his heart...

Poem #619 in The Book Of Georgian Verse, page 1110, published 1909. This poem seems so appropriate to what we do at, surrounding ourselves with, learning from, and keeping alive the memories of deceased authors . . . their ideas, concerns, creative output . . . and hoping that our efforts will also last "through all futurity".