Bonhams 1793 : NELSON (HORATIO)

Autograph letter signed ("Nelson & Bronte"), to his friend Captain Samuel Sutton of the Amazon, announcing that he has that moment "received an order to strike my flag, and come on Shore" and hoping that Sutton, too, will soon be set at liberty ("...nobody will be happier to see You than Your friends at Merton..."), adding that "I suppose I must be discharged this day with my retinue"; devoting the rest of the letter to concerns over Emma's cousin, Midshipman Charles Connor: "I am very anxious to keep Charles afloat, and wish You would turn your Eyes round to any Ship that is to be kept in Commission if going abroad the better, and a good Man who will do justice by the lad but few very few will take that care of Him which Yu have been good enough to do, and for which We are most truly thankful"; with free-frank address panel ("Merton. April Tenth 1802/ Capt Sutton/ H.M. Ship Amazon/ Deal/ Kent/ Nelson & Bronte"), bearing an 'Unpaid' 'Low Tooting' post mark, and back date-stamp, one page, crowned posthorn 'PB' watermark, the paper browned where exposed to wood through framing, but without brittleness, 4to, Merton, 10 April 1802

Sold for £3,600 inc. premium

Footnotes

NELSON TO HIS FLAG-CAPTAIN, ANNOUNCING THAT HE HAS RECEIVED ORDERS TO STRIKE HIS FLAG THAT DAY AND COME ON SHORE he was to strike his flag only once again in his life, two months before Trafalgar. In compliance with these orders, he struck his flag at sunset and 'came on shore' that same day, although he had in fact as the wry underlining of the letter indicates already been living ashore with Emma at 'paradise' Merton for some time. The letter's recipient, Samuel Sutton, had been his flag-captain on the Amazon during the final stages of that summer's Channel campaign, and on the renewal of hostilities a year later was to stay on as his flag-captain in the Victory, before being replaced by Hardy. A brief summary of this letter is given by Oman, Nelson, p. 495, where she describes the pains Nelson took to advance the career of Emma's young cousin Charles; with the full text being published by Nicolas, Dispatches and Letters. See illustration at page 66.

Category: Books / Books, Maps and Manuscripts

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