Many of his pieces were first dedicated to her; and her ready memory often supplied him with the necessary references and quotations.
Thus, in the roll of noble wives of men of genius, Mrs.Hood will always be entitled to take a foremost place.
Not less effective as a literary helper was Lady Napier, the wife of Sir William Napier, historian of the Peninsular War.

She encouraged him to undertake the work, and without her help he would have experienced great difficulty in completing it.

She translated and epitomized the immense mass of original documents, many of them in cipher, on which it was in a great measure founded.

When the Duke of Wellington was told of the art and industry she had displayed in deciphering King Joseph's portfolio, and the immense mass of correspondence taken at Vittoria, he at first would hardly believe it, adding--"I would have given 20,000L.

to any person who could have done this for me in the Peninsula." Sir William Napier's handwriting being almost illegible, Lady Napier made out his rough interlined manuscript, which he himself could scarcely read, and wrote out a full fair copy for the printer; and all this vast labour she undertook and accomplished, according to the testimony of her husband, without having for a moment neglected the care and education of a large family.