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Autograph letter signed ('Nelson & Bronte') to Captain [Henry] Blackwood, Victory, 14 October 1805
Details
Horatio Nelson, Viscount Nelson (1758-1805)
Autograph letter signed ('Nelson & Bronte') to Captain [Henry] Blackwood, Victory, 14 October 1805
Three pages, 236 x 188mm, bifolium (remnants of window-mount to margins of f.2). Provenance: Sotheby's, 13 December 1993, lot 282.
'... in case of an attempt to drive you off, I should like most amazingly see them try it...': a week before Trafalgar, Nelson sends support to the frigates watching Villeneuve's fleet in Cadiz. Writing to the commander of his inshore squadron, Nelson sets out his arrangements for supporting him: 'The Defence & Agamemnon will be placed this day from Seven to Ten Leagues West from Cadiz and two or three ships will be placed between the fleet and them, therefore you will be speedily supported and in case of an attempt to drive you off, I should like most amazingly see them try it'. Nelson sends news of the movements of three other frigates, Amphion, Renommee and Aimable, and promises to relieve any of Blackwood's squadron as soon as he can. He gives a brief summary of developments of the war on land ('Austrians entered Bavaria, Russians in Germa[n]y and I dare say the Austrians are at work in Italy before this time'), and notes the departure from the fleet of Sir Robert Calder (to face a court martial for his actions at the indecisive Battle of Cape Finisterre in July), mentioning captains Prowse and Durham who have been summoned to attend as witnesses: 'Sir Rob[er]t is gone, Poor fellow I hope he will get well over the enquiry. Say to Capt. Prowse that he will be sent in due time, Durham refused to go'.
The recipient, later Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Blackwood, 1st Baronet (1770-1832), had gained Nelson's admiration for successfully engaging the French Guillaume Tell of 80 guns with his own frigate HMS Penelope of a mere 36 guns at the blockade of Malta in 1800. Nelson placed him in charge of the frigates outside Cadiz in September 1805, with the responsibility of informing him of any movement of the enemy fleet: Nelson's arrangements in the present letter of four ships of the line between himself and Blackwood's squadron enabled him to keep the main body of his fleet out of sight whilst remaining in constant communication, meaning that when Captain William Prowse (mentioned at the end of the letter) on the Sirius observed Villeneuve's preparations to put to sea at dawn on 19 October, Nelson was alerted within hours. Blackwood himself was summoned to rejoin Nelson for his final instructions two days later, on the morning of the battle itself, and witnessed the codicil to Nelson's will. Nelson's farewell to him, as shots were already flying over Victory, is legendary: 'God bless you, Blackwood. I shall never speak to you again'.
Autograph letter signed ('Nelson & Bronte') to Captain [Henry] Blackwood, Victory, 14 October 1805
Three pages, 236 x 188mm, bifolium (remnants of window-mount to margins of f.2). Provenance: Sotheby's, 13 December 1993, lot 282.
'... in case of an attempt to drive you off, I should like most amazingly see them try it...': a week before Trafalgar, Nelson sends support to the frigates watching Villeneuve's fleet in Cadiz. Writing to the commander of his inshore squadron, Nelson sets out his arrangements for supporting him: 'The Defence & Agamemnon will be placed this day from Seven to Ten Leagues West from Cadiz and two or three ships will be placed between the fleet and them, therefore you will be speedily supported and in case of an attempt to drive you off, I should like most amazingly see them try it'. Nelson sends news of the movements of three other frigates, Amphion, Renommee and Aimable, and promises to relieve any of Blackwood's squadron as soon as he can. He gives a brief summary of developments of the war on land ('Austrians entered Bavaria, Russians in Germa[n]y and I dare say the Austrians are at work in Italy before this time'), and notes the departure from the fleet of Sir Robert Calder (to face a court martial for his actions at the indecisive Battle of Cape Finisterre in July), mentioning captains Prowse and Durham who have been summoned to attend as witnesses: 'Sir Rob[er]t is gone, Poor fellow I hope he will get well over the enquiry. Say to Capt. Prowse that he will be sent in due time, Durham refused to go'.
The recipient, later Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Blackwood, 1st Baronet (1770-1832), had gained Nelson's admiration for successfully engaging the French Guillaume Tell of 80 guns with his own frigate HMS Penelope of a mere 36 guns at the blockade of Malta in 1800. Nelson placed him in charge of the frigates outside Cadiz in September 1805, with the responsibility of informing him of any movement of the enemy fleet: Nelson's arrangements in the present letter of four ships of the line between himself and Blackwood's squadron enabled him to keep the main body of his fleet out of sight whilst remaining in constant communication, meaning that when Captain William Prowse (mentioned at the end of the letter) on the Sirius observed Villeneuve's preparations to put to sea at dawn on 19 October, Nelson was alerted within hours. Blackwood himself was summoned to rejoin Nelson for his final instructions two days later, on the morning of the battle itself, and witnessed the codicil to Nelson's will. Nelson's farewell to him, as shots were already flying over Victory, is legendary: 'God bless you, Blackwood. I shall never speak to you again'.
Brought to you by
Eugenio Donadoni
Senior Specialist, Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts