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Lot 27

"whatever may become of me My Mind is at Peace"
Battle of the Nile

18 October 2005, 14:00 BST
Oxford

Sold for £840 inc. premium

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"whatever may become of me My Mind is at Peace"
Battle of the Nile

Autograph anecdote describing Nelson at the Battle of the Nile by John Hill, first Lieutenant of HM Ship Minotaur, intended for periodical publication and headed by him "The following Anecdote was forwarded to us by an Officer in the Action of the Nile & we believe has not been communicated to the Public": "On 1st of August when the Vanguard [Nelson's flagship] anchor'd alongside the Spartiate, she became exposed to the Raking fire of the Aquilon the next Ship in the Enemy's line, by which the Vanguard had between fifty & sixty Men disabled in the space of Ten Minutes. Owing however to the Gallant & Judicious manner in which Capt Louis took his Station ahead of the Vanguard, the Minotaur not only effectually relieved her from this distressing Situation but overpowered her Opponent. Lord Nelson felt so grateful to Capt Louis for his conduct, on this important Occasion that about Nine O Clock, while yet the Combat was raging with the utmost fury, and he himself was suffering severely in the Cockpit from the Dreadfull wound in his Head; he sent for his Lieut Mr Capel, & ordered him to go onboard the Minotaur, in the Jolly Boat desired Capt Louis would come to him; for that he could not have a Moments Peace, until he had thank'd him for his Conduct: adding (that this is the hundreth & Twenty fourth time I have been Engaged but I believe it is now nearly over with me) The subsequent Meeting which took Place between the Admiral, & Captain Louis, was affecting in the Extreme. The latter hung over his Bleeding friend in Silent Sorrow; Farewell dear Louis" said the Admiral "I shall never forget the obligation I am under to you for your Brave & generous Conduct; & now whatever may become of me My Mind is at Peace"; with two other unrelated anecdotes on the reverse, one page, 4to, watermark date 1797, some spotting, after November 1797

Footnotes

The wounded Nelson prepares himself for death during the Battle of the Nile. In her account of the battle, Carola Oman records that once he had been told that his wound was not fatal, Nelson sent a message "for Louis of the Minotaur, who had so boldly and efficiently relieved the Admiral's flagship from the dual fire of L'Aquilon and Le Spartiate -- 'Your support prevented me from being obliged to haul out of the line'" (Nelson, p.295). That an actual meeting took place, however, is confirmed by an entry in Hill's log: "1/2 past 9 the Admiral sent his Boat onboard of us for Capt Louis to go onboard the Vanguard" (see lot 29).

Additional information

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