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Lot 103

"...You will I am sure make allowances for a left handed Man..."
Horatio Nelson

5 July 2005, 11:00 BST

London, New Bond Street

Sold for £5,400 inc. premium

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"...You will I am sure make allowances for a left handed Man..."
Horatio Nelson

Autograph letter signed ("Nelson"), to Commodore John Duckworth, thanking him for his "several very interesting letters" and offering to enter into regular correspondence whenever opportunity offers ("...You will I am sure make allowances for a left handed Man, but my inclination to write longer letters than I am able to do is great [but deleted] I can get but slowly over the paper..."); he then goes on to discuss the supply of 1200 pairs of shoes and of firewood, which is lacking on his side of Sicily; in a postscript Nelson assures Duckworth that he has not failed to present his respects "to Sir Wm & Lady Hamilton"; with overleaf a note on the cost of firewood at Palermo in another hand, the letter marked "turn over", docketed by Duckworth, one page, 4to, very light browning but overall in attractive condition, Palermo, 2 February 1799

Footnotes

Nelson on the difficulties of writing with his left hand, and his compulsion "to write longer letters than I am able". It is in itself remarkable that the majority of his letters were written in his own hand, rather than, as would have been quite understandable under the circumstances, dictated. This no doubt says a good deal about the man, and the personal rapport he sought to establish with those with whom he came into contact. For the mere physical act of writing, as opposed to dictating, presented him with considerable difficulties: not only was he forced to write with his left hand but, being one-armed, had no other hand with which to steady the paper; furthermore his one good eye was often subjected to strain, especially under the glare of sea, nor did his propensity for sea-sickness help (see Felix Pryor, 'Nelson the Letter-Writer', in The Nelson Companion, edited by Colin White, 1995 edition, p.167). Duckworth was at this time senior officer at Port Mahon, having been in command of the naval forces the previous November when the island was taken back from the Spanish. He was promoted Rear Admiral of the Fleet on 14 February. The text of this fine letter is published by Nicolas, Letters and Dispatches, iii, p.251, taken from Nelson's letterbook.

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ARCHITECTURE - ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL
Manuscript planning brief for work under the supervision of Inigo Jones, [c.1631]

ADVERTISING POSTER
for 'The Suffragette' newspaper, [c.1913-1914]

ARCHITECTURE - STUART (JAMES) AND NICHOLAS REVETT
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ILLUMINATED ADDRESS – CLARA CODD
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BANK NOTES - MANUFACTURING
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