Horatio Nelson, Autograph Letter, Signed

Description

With this letter, Horatio Nelson alerts his superiors of successes he had in obtaining prize hauls in the coastline near Genoa.

He instituted a blockade of the coast, intercepting all shipping and sending it with prize crews to Vado Bay. In a second page, Nelson delineates his haul of ships, men, and armaments during this particular action. He lists a Corvette, a gunboat, and two gallies, all of which includes 10 guns and 100 men. He goes on with Merchant Vessels, a French Ketch and a Brig; and concludes with “Five or six other vessels, cargo or coasting schooners, all ‘deeply laden.’ ” He concludes, “Seven Prizes arrived the others in the offing.” A clerk’s filing endorsement, naming Nelson and the date, notes that the letter had been “Copied.”

The Agamemnon was launched in 1781 with an armament of 64 guns and a complement of 485. In January 1793, Captain Nelson was given command of the Agamemnon, a fast and maneuverable ship with a superbly trained crew. He was tasked with fighting the Revolutionary French and to support British allies in the Mediterranean.

In the Spring of 1793, Nelson departed as a part of a squadron for the Mediterranean Fleet, based off Toulon. He took part in battles over Toulon, Corsica, Bastia, and Calvi. Then Nelson was involved in only a few skirmishes with the French Fleet. Operating out of Genoa, Nelson was tasked with intercepting and inspecting merchantmen and cutting-out suspicious vessels, in both enemy and neutral harbors. He harried French coastal shipping, disrupting supplies to the French land armies.

A wonderful example highlighting Nelson’s successful Mediterranean operations that serve as illustrations of his rising star among the British naval class.

Excellent with bold, clear writing.

Nelson, Horatio. Autograph Letter, signed; August 1795, Off Vado. 2p, Quatro; framed with image and informational plaques; overall dimensions 29″ x 23″.