![NELSON, Horatio, Viscount (1758-1805). Autograph letter signed ('Nelson & Bronte') to the Rt Honourable George Rose, n.p. [London], 15 May 1803, on mourning paper, 1½ pages, 4to, integral blank (small tape repairs in folds, mostly in blank leaf, slightly browned, f.2 dust-stained on verso). Provenance: Collection of Edwin Wolf II, sold at Christie's, 20 June 1990 (lot 241).](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2006/CKS/2006_CKS_07275_0061_000(010411).jpg?w=1)
Details
NELSON, Horatio, Viscount (1758-1805). Autograph letter signed ('Nelson & Bronte') to the Rt Honourable George Rose, n.p. [London], 15 May 1803, on mourning paper, 1½ pages, 4to, integral blank (small tape repairs in folds, mostly in blank leaf, slightly browned, f.2 dust-stained on verso). Provenance: Collection of Edwin Wolf II, sold at Christie's, 20 June 1990 (lot 241).
NELSON DEMANDS A LARGER GOVERNMENT ANNUITY: 'I was with [Prime Minister] Mr Addington this morning and as we conversed on the subject of the extension of my annuity, and also on the extraordinary thing of my not receiving the Irish Pension as was done for Lords St Vincent & Duncan, I said that I had conversed much with you on the subject ... the favor I have to beg of you is to tell Mr A[ddington] that it was a mistake giving me less than other officers'. As a further inducement, he may point out that he got nothing for Copenhagen.
Nelson had reopened the question of his Nile pension in a long letter to Addington on 8 March 1803, claiming quite reasonably that his victories had been more significant than those of Lord St Vincent or Lord Duncan, and that they had received a grant from the Irish Parliament of £1,000 per year which had not been bestowed upon him. He had enclosed a balance sheet showing that after payments to his wife, Frances, and to his brother's widow and for the education of his nephews, he was left with £768 a year to live on. For the battle of Copenhagen he had received neither medals nor as yet even his modest share of the prize money. For the rest of his life he was to be short of the money required to maintain the style expected of a viscount, and to support the uncontrollable extravagances of Lady Hamilton.
The letter is on mourning paper for the death of Sir William Hamilton, who had died on 6 April, in Emma Hamilton's arms and with Nelson holding his hand. On the day after it was written, after a year on half pay, Nelson was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean fleet, and two days later England declared war on France. Nelson's friend George Rose was President of the Board of Trade and from 1804 joint Paymaster General.
NELSON DEMANDS A LARGER GOVERNMENT ANNUITY: 'I was with [Prime Minister] Mr Addington this morning and as we conversed on the subject of the extension of my annuity, and also on the extraordinary thing of my not receiving the Irish Pension as was done for Lords St Vincent & Duncan, I said that I had conversed much with you on the subject ... the favor I have to beg of you is to tell Mr A[ddington] that it was a mistake giving me less than other officers'. As a further inducement, he may point out that he got nothing for Copenhagen.
Nelson had reopened the question of his Nile pension in a long letter to Addington on 8 March 1803, claiming quite reasonably that his victories had been more significant than those of Lord St Vincent or Lord Duncan, and that they had received a grant from the Irish Parliament of £1,000 per year which had not been bestowed upon him. He had enclosed a balance sheet showing that after payments to his wife, Frances, and to his brother's widow and for the education of his nephews, he was left with £768 a year to live on. For the battle of Copenhagen he had received neither medals nor as yet even his modest share of the prize money. For the rest of his life he was to be short of the money required to maintain the style expected of a viscount, and to support the uncontrollable extravagances of Lady Hamilton.
The letter is on mourning paper for the death of Sir William Hamilton, who had died on 6 April, in Emma Hamilton's arms and with Nelson holding his hand. On the day after it was written, after a year on half pay, Nelson was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean fleet, and two days later England declared war on France. Nelson's friend George Rose was President of the Board of Trade and from 1804 joint Paymaster General.
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