AN AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT LETTER FROM ADMIRAL LORD NELSON TO THE EARL ST. VINCENT REGARDING A SUGGESTED ATTACK ON THE REVEL FLEET

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AN AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT LETTER FROM ADMIRAL LORD NELSON TO THE EARL ST. VINCENT REGARDING A SUGGESTED ATTACK ON THE REVEL FLEET
written over one side of a sheet of watermarked paper and reading in full: S^t. George May 22^nd, 1801 My Dear Lord, I send you a plan of the bay of Revel drawn by our friend Colonel Stewart who is an excellent & indefatigable young man and depend upon it the rising hope of our army, as there is no other Plan in being perhaps you will direct a copy to be lodged in the office, The fleet when out of the mole always moor on the East side of the bay, the outer Ship supposed to be protected by the fort marked B -- the Scale is correct, there are it is true a number of guns but as the officer who goes there is not supposed to mind guns if he can get In and out again, In my opinion the Revel fleet weither in or out of the mole must be destroyed by a Vigorous attack + that it may if the Russians again give us offence is the sincere wish of your affectionate sick friend Nelson + Bronte Earl S^t. Vincent KB, contained within archive slip file together with copious notes and including a transcript contained within card folder
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Lot Essay

The battle of Copenhagen (2^nd April 1801) had been fought to dislodge Denmark from the so-called "Armed Neutrality" of the Baltic States led by Russia (see notes to lot 226 in this catalogue for further information). That done, Nelson had wanted to make for Reval, where the Russian fleet lay ice-bound, immediately but was held back by protracted negotiations with the Danes. When he was eventually able to sail, news reached him that the militant Czar Paul I had died and had been succeeded by the more moderate Alexander I. An attack on Reval therefore ceased to be a priority although this letter to Lord St. Vincent reveals that Nelson was more than ready in the event of future hostilities with Russia.

The Colonel Stewart referred to is Lieut. Col. (Later Lieutenant-General) the Hon. William Stewart.

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