You may also be interested in

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

1678539 — Gustav Vasas bibel "Thet är all then heligha scrifft, på Swensko...".

SEK8,000

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

1678144 — Books, 'Svenska slott och herresäten', 18 volumes, Allhems Förlag, Malmö, 1966-1971.

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

1679391 — Jodocus Hondius, from Gerardi Mercatoris "L'Atlas ou Méditations Cosmographiques...", 1613-16.

SEK4,000

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

1679520 — Johannes/Jean Blaeu, "Zeelandia Insula Danicarum Maxima", 1665.

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

1679405 — Jodocus Hondius, from Gerardi Mercatoris "Atlas sive Cosmographicae Meditationes...", ca 1606.

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

1676297 — Books 3 vol "Fish and Fishing in the North" and "Between Us Anglers".

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

1676322 — Product catalogs "Napp och Nytt" Abu Garcia.

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

1674739 — Tove Jansson, Don Carlos & Tove Jansson, "Bröderna Borgs bedrifter".

SEK5,000

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

1663229 — Tove Jansson, a book, 'Bildhuggarens dotter', signed.

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

1674740 — Tove Jansson, "Kometjakten".

SEK10,000

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

1652553 — Tove Jansson, Booklet, A Tale of Moomintroll for Föreningsbanken, Helsinki 1956.

EUR400

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

1 — ARCHITECTURE - ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL Manuscript planning brief, 1631

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

1 — ADVERTISING POSTER for 'The Suffragette' newspaper c.1913

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

2^• — ARCHITECTURE STUART (JAMES) AND NICHOLAS REVETT. The Antiquities of Athens, Measured and Delineated, 4 vol. bound in 2, Priestley and Weale, 1825-1830

£600 - £800

2^* — ILLUMINATED ADDRESS – CLARA CODD Illuminated printed address signed by Emmeline Pankhurst [1909]

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

£800 - £1,200

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

£400 - £600

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

4^• — BANK NOTES - MANUFACTURING BRADBURY (HENRY) On the Security and Manufacture of Bank Notes. A Lecture as Delivered at the Royal Institution of Great Britain.... Friday Evening, May 9, 1856, FIRST EDITION, Bradbury and Evans, 1856

Nelson and the Royal Navy 1750-1815

Previous Lot

Next Lot

Lot 37

"Commodore Nelson is the next object of our attention"
Nelson and the Battle of St Vincent

5 July 2005, 11:00 BST

London, New Bond Street

Sold for £1,200 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

"Commodore Nelson is the next object of our attention"
Nelson and the Battle of St Vincent

Autograph letter signed ("RL") by Major Robert Ballard Long, to his father Edward Long, describing the arrival of the frigate Lively at Portsmouth the day before, bringing news of the Battle of St Vincent ("...Sir John Jervis had always determined to attack, whenever he shd meet the Enemy's Fleet...the Culloden...being permitted to take whatever station in the line was most convenient...gained a course so much to windward that she was enabled, to lead the Whole Fleet into action, where she sustained a most gallant part -. Commodore Nelson is the next object of our attention - after engaging two Spanish Ships for a considerable time & nearly silencing their fire, His topmast was shot away, & He fell rather to Leeward - The two Spaniards in consequence got aboard of each other, & Nelson seeing this situation made every effort to grapple with one of them & effected it - & immediately entered it at the head of his Boarders - The other Spaniard seeing this, opened a musquetry fire upon him whilst the poop of the Ship he had taken - The Commodore immediately secured himself 'till a reinforcement of his People came, & then proceeded to the same ceremony with the second ship of the enemy, & which after a short resistance, he likewise took possession of - His Barge Crew followed him & received the different swords as fast as they were surrendered by the Spanish officers -. Can you after this be astonished at the consequences of this action..."), 4 pages, 4to, address panel, seal and postmarks, "Portsmouth March 9th" (date stamped 10 March 1797)

Footnotes

The first news of Nelson's heroism reaches England. The Battle of Cape St Vincent had been fought on 14 February and was witnessed by the frigate Lively under Captain Lord Garlies, the source of the present account. Also onboard the Lively was Colonel Drinkwater, to whom Nelson described his actions the following day, a further account being sent by Nelson to his mentor Captain William Locker, which the latter published on 20 March (before the Drinkwater version appeared). Jervis's official dispatch, which notoriously failed to mention Nelson, had been published on 3 March. The Lively had put into Plymouth on 5 March, before sailing on to Portsmouth. Our version is notable in that it does not derive from Drinkwater or Nelson, but from the independent testimony of Garlies; in the words of Robert Long: "Lord Garlies, in the Lively Frigate, arrived here yesterday - He has given us some details of the late action & which serve to enhance the value of the British Sailor so much, that I cannot refrain a description of them". For a full account of the battle and the controversy surrounding Nelson's account, see Colin White, 1797: Nelson's Year of Destiny, 1998, pp.55-85; and Edgar Vincent, Nelson: Love and Fame, 2003, pp.190-200. The present account bears out Vincent's claim that "the effect in naval circles of Nelson's achievement was immediate, and preceded that of his public relations campaign" (p.196).

Additional information

This sale is now finished. If you are interested in consigning in future sales, please contact the specialist department. If you have queries about lots purchased in this sale, please contact customer services.
Buyers' Obligations
ALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.
If you have any questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest client services team.
From 28 June 2025, the import into the EU of non-EU property of a certain age (and in some categories above a certain value) is subject to additional requirements. Under the relevant EU Regulation, it is the Buyer's sole responsibility to assess whether any Lot meets the criteria for import into the EU. The refusal of any required Import Licence or Importer Statement, or any delay in obtaining such Licence or Statement shall not give rise to the rescission or cancellation of any Sale, nor allow any delay in making full payment for the Lot.
Buyers' Premium and Charges
For all Sales categories, buyer's premium excluding Cars, Motorbikes, Wine, Whisky and Coin & Medal sales, will be as follows:
Buyer's Premium Rates
28% on the first £40,000 of the hammer price;
27% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £40,000 up to and including £800,000;
21% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £800,000 up to and including £4,500,000;
and 14.5% of the hammer price of any amounts in excess of £4,500,000.
A 3rd party bidding platform fee of 4% of the Hammer Price for Buyers using the following bidding platforms will be added to the invoices of successful Buyers for auctions starting on or after 6th July 2024 – Invaluable; Live Auctioneers; The Saleroom; Lot-tissimo.
VAT at the current rate of 20% will be added to the Buyer's Premium and charges excluding Artists Resale Right.
Payment Notices
For payment information please refer to the sale catalog.
Shipping Notices
For information and estimates on domestic and international shipping as well as export licenses please contact Bonhams Shipping Department.
- Scientific Instruments
- Marine Pictures & Works of Art

Bid now on these items

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

Heinrich Scherer, "Archipelagus Atlanticus...".

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

Jean-Baptiste Bourguignon d’Anville, "Roman World . . . 1763".

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

Selma Lagerlöf, a signed letter, Mårbacka, Sunne, 22/11 1914.

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

Franz Anton Schraembl, "Map of the Country of Yemen... 1789".

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

Johannes/Jean Blaeu, "Fionia vulgo Funen", Funen Denmark.

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

Bröderna von Wright, books, three volumes, 'Svenska fåglar', Förlaget Svenska Fåglar, Stockholm, 1927-1929.

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

Gustav Vasas bibel "Thet är all then heligha scrifft, på Swensko...".

SEK8,000

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

Books, 'Svenska slott och herresäten', 18 volumes, Allhems Förlag, Malmö, 1966-1971.

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

Jodocus Hondius, from Gerardi Mercatoris "L'Atlas ou Méditations Cosmographiques...", 1613-16.

SEK4,000

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

Johannes/Jean Blaeu, "Zeelandia Insula Danicarum Maxima", 1665.

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

Jodocus Hondius, from Gerardi Mercatoris "Atlas sive Cosmographicae Meditationes...", ca 1606.

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

Books 3 vol "Fish and Fishing in the North" and "Between Us Anglers".

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

Product catalogs "Napp och Nytt" Abu Garcia.

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

Tove Jansson, Don Carlos & Tove Jansson, "Bröderna Borgs bedrifter".

SEK5,000

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

Tove Jansson, a book, 'Bildhuggarens dotter', signed.

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

Tove Jansson, "Kometjakten".

SEK10,000

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

Tove Jansson, Booklet, A Tale of Moomintroll for Föreningsbanken, Helsinki 1956.

EUR400

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
The Antiquities of Athens, 4 vol. bound in 2, 1825-1830

£600 - £800

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)

£800 - £1,200

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

£400 - £600

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