A letter written after the Battle of Trafalgar aboard H.M.S. Britannia, October 30th, 1805

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A letter written after the Battle of Trafalgar aboard H.M.S. Britannia, October 30th, 1805
the manuscript written by John Wells of Britannia, the letter now detached in four sections, from H.M.Ship Britannia off Cadiz October 30th 1805 and addressed to his Parents. The author describes the immediate run up to Battle ...we had the satisfaction of seeing our Enemy about 8 or 10 miles to leeward of us Lord Nelson immediately made the signal to close the Enemy and prepare for Battle... and goes on to describe the development from Britannia's view ...Britannia was certainly a very fortunate ship during the whole time as we had not above 10 killed and 41 wounded although we were the 4th ship in Action and the last out of it...and at one time had 5 ships blazing away upon us but we soon tied them out., the capture of French prizes ...I went on board one of the French prizes to take possesion of her and when I got there I may well say I was shocked to the sight as I believe there was not less than 3 or 400 Bodies lying about the decks cut and mangled all to pieces some dying and others dead.., and the difficulties encountered in coping with so many captured vessels, the sections stored in clear envelopes, each -- 6 x 9in. (15 x 24cm.)
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H.M.S. Britannia (1762-1826) served as flagship to Rear-Admiral Lord Northesk, Third-in-Command at Trafalgar and is thought to be the oldest ship engaged in the battle on either side; Lieut. J. Wells was born in Hull in 1784 and entered service in 1803. He served in Britannia at the blockade of Brest, 1804-5 and served as Signal-Midshipman at Trafalgar. He resigned the service in 1816 and died in 1841 aged 56.

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