Ian Ehling
Head of Department
Lot 25
NELSON, HORATIO. 1758-1805. Autograph Letter Signed ("Horatio Nelson") and Initialed, to Livorno merchant Thomas Pollard regarding stores for his ship H.M.S. Agamemnon,
6 March 2020, 10:00 EST
New YorkSold for US$5,325 inc. premium
Looking for a similar item?
Our Books & Manuscripts specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistAsk about this lot
NELSON, HORATIO. 1758-1805.
Autograph Letter Signed ("Horatio Nelson") and Initialed, to Livorno merchant Thomas Pollard regarding stores for his ship H.M.S. Agamemnon, 3 pp recto and verso, 4to (conjoining leaves), on board the Agamemnon, February 6, 1795, light creasing, loss to second leaf from red wax seal, tape repair to verso of 1st leaf, matted with portrait and framed.
"I HATE TURKEYS AT SEA."
In the month leading up to the Battle of Genoa, Horatio Nelson writes this cranky letter to Thomas Pollard, an English merchant at the Italian port of Livorno. In part: "Dear Pollard, / We shall never get out of this d—d place [Porto Ferraro in Elba]: I had rather remain at sea for ever than return here, where nothing is to be had for love or money. Lord [Amelius] Beauclerk [Captain of the Juno] will allow a few trifles to be received on board, for me. I have sent back the fowl-coop by him. I have wrote you by Tartar, and all may have sent letters; God knows if they arrive. Reports are current with everybody that we return to Leghorn after a short cruise. I sincerely hope it."
A portion of this letter is reproduced in Dispatches and Letters of Vice Admiral Lord Viscount Nelson collected by Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas (London: 1845), who identifies the miserable port from whence Nelson writes and also names the owner of the letter in 1845, a certain John Luxford, Esq. (likely hailing from Sussex). Nicolas left out the best parts of this letter, however. On p 2, Nelson adds the first of two postscripts to Pollard, likely referring to Adelaide Correglia, a local woman with whom he had a brief affair: "In some letter I wrote you in January I desired you to give my female friend 10 £ sterling in addition to my note left with her and paying her house rent if the letter is not received, please to pay it. H.N."
On p 3, Nelson provides an inventory of the desired provisions, with editorial commentary: "For Capt Nelson / One dozn Fowls. / One Dozn Ducks. Coop sent by Juno & a little fruit. one Bushel good Potatoes, two loaves of Sugar & 10 pounds of Lucca Butter. / Two sheep were ordered some time ago / received Fowls & Turkey by messenger. ducks were order'd at that time. / I hate turkeys at sea. / H.N."
"I HATE TURKEYS AT SEA."
In the month leading up to the Battle of Genoa, Horatio Nelson writes this cranky letter to Thomas Pollard, an English merchant at the Italian port of Livorno. In part: "Dear Pollard, / We shall never get out of this d—d place [Porto Ferraro in Elba]: I had rather remain at sea for ever than return here, where nothing is to be had for love or money. Lord [Amelius] Beauclerk [Captain of the Juno] will allow a few trifles to be received on board, for me. I have sent back the fowl-coop by him. I have wrote you by Tartar, and all may have sent letters; God knows if they arrive. Reports are current with everybody that we return to Leghorn after a short cruise. I sincerely hope it."
A portion of this letter is reproduced in Dispatches and Letters of Vice Admiral Lord Viscount Nelson collected by Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas (London: 1845), who identifies the miserable port from whence Nelson writes and also names the owner of the letter in 1845, a certain John Luxford, Esq. (likely hailing from Sussex). Nicolas left out the best parts of this letter, however. On p 2, Nelson adds the first of two postscripts to Pollard, likely referring to Adelaide Correglia, a local woman with whom he had a brief affair: "In some letter I wrote you in January I desired you to give my female friend 10 £ sterling in addition to my note left with her and paying her house rent if the letter is not received, please to pay it. H.N."
On p 3, Nelson provides an inventory of the desired provisions, with editorial commentary: "For Capt Nelson / One dozn Fowls. / One Dozn Ducks. Coop sent by Juno & a little fruit. one Bushel good Potatoes, two loaves of Sugar & 10 pounds of Lucca Butter. / Two sheep were ordered some time ago / received Fowls & Turkey by messenger. ducks were order'd at that time. / I hate turkeys at sea. / H.N."