Skip to main content

This auction has ended. View lot details

You may also be interested in

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

Lot 126

"if You would quit so fine a frigate to serve with Me"
Horatio Nelson

5 July 2005, 11:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £19,200 inc. premium

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

How to sell

Looking for a similar item?

Our Scientific Instruments specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.

Find your local specialist

"if You would quit so fine a frigate to serve with Me"
Horatio Nelson

Autograph letter signed ("Nelson & Bronte"), to Captain Hardy ("My Dear Hardy"), asking him to be his captain ("...had the Idea of War gone on I spoke to Ld St Vt for You to be my Captain if You would quit so fine a frigate to serve with Me which would give Me real comfort, but I hope we shall be some time at Peace..."), and asking him to enquire into the Turkish sabre that [his protégé] Captain Hoste has sent home for him ("...send it to 23 Piccadilly..."), and telling him that "Sir William & Lady Hamilton desire to be most kindly remembered"; subscribing himself "Ever Your faithful & affectionate Nelson & Bronte"; docketed twice by Captain Hardy with the date, one page, 4to, trimmed (just affecting the text) and with professional archival restoration (three sections, joined), but nevertheless clean and the paper sound, [Merton], 21 January 1803

Footnotes

Nelson asks Captain Hardy to serve as his flag captain: Hardy had first served as Nelson’s flag captain in the Foudroyant after the Nile, transferring with him to the San Josef and to the St George, after which he left Nelson to take command of the 54-gun frigate Isis. Following the offer made to him in this letter, Hardy again joined Nelson at the resumption of war, sailing with him to the Mediterranean in Amphion that May, and turning over with Nelson into the Victory in July. He remained on board the Victory throughout the blockade of Toulon, and the Great Chase to the West Indies and, of course, was her Captain at Trafalgar. It is this letter, therefore, that was to result in Hardy’s Trafalgar command. It is not published by Nicolas, Dispatches and Letters, where only five letters by Nelson to Hardy are printed, all being on official business and all but one formally-worded communications (a further one is printed by White, New Letters).

Additional information

Bid now on these items

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

ARCHITECTURE - STUART (JAMES) AND NICHOLAS REVETT The Antiquities of Athens, 4 vol. bound in 2, 1825-1830

ILLUMINATED ADDRESS – CLARA CODD Illuminated printed address signed by Emmeline Pankhurst, [1909]

ARMENIAN - HISTORY, THEOLOGY AND PRINTING. Group of books/a map in Armenian, c.1825-1901 (12)

MUSIC & RECORDINGS – ETHEL SMYTH Collection of printed music, song sheets and records, [c.1911-1912]

BANK NOTES - MANUFACTURING BRADBURY (HENRY) On the Security and Manufacture of Bank Notes, FIRST EDITION, Bradbury and Evans, 1856