When Nelson was being invested with the insignia of a Knight of the Order of the Bath, King George III remarked, "You have lost your right arm." Nelson replied, "But not my right hand." How did he explain this remark?

Prison

He meant that he had not lost his right hand man, Captain Berry. http://books.google.com/books?id=QkAJAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA448&lpg=PA448&dq=You+have+lost+your+right+arm+but+not+your +right+hand+Nelson&source=bl&ots=OIZEJ5nSH2&sig=oVfqrszBHO31CEhgrEpPJhK LiHo&hl=en&ei=IoJfSqSHDYfKtgfQreXECA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3 Jul 16 09, 1:43 PM

BRY2K

I don't know that this is a full explanation but here's what I have uncovered by way of Nelson's "explanation". After the exchange noted in your question, Nelson followed up with, "as I have the honour of presenting Captain Berry to you. And, besides, may it please your Majesty, I can never think that a loss which the performance of my duty has occasioned ; and, so long as I have a foot to stand on, I will combat for my country and King." http://www.archive.org/stream/nelsoninenglandd00meyniala/nelsoninenglandd00meyniala_djvu.txt Jul 16 09, 1:45 PM

Watchkeeper

Prison has it. "... the following has been verified by Lady Berry, who, in reply to the Editor's inquiry, obligingly informed him that 'the fact is as stated of Nelson's having emphatically called Berry his "right band", on presenting him to the King, in reply to His Majesty's expression of concern at the loss of his right arm; and though the words may not be exactly correct, they are essentially the same.'" (op. cit.) Jul 16 09, 1:57 PM