Description:

Nelson Horatio 1758 - 1805

Two days after he took command of the "H.M.S.Victory", Nelson writes an historically important letter discussing the ship's crew. As Great Britain went to war against Napoleon, Nelson proclaimed: "I look to the captaining". The letter was previously sold about 100 years ago and includes that documentation.

Autograph letter signed, "Nelson & Bronte," 2 pages, 9" x 7.25", [aboard the "Victory" at Spithead], May 20, 1803 to John McArthur, secretary to Admiral Samuel Hood, and onetime purser aboard the "Victory", and Nelson's first biographer, soothing his friend's injured feelings and discussing personnel issues aboard the "H.M.S. Victory". Expected folds, mild dampstain toward left margin, expertly laid in to a larger sheet, else very good condition.

An unpublished letter, written just as he was departing England aboard the "H.M.S. Victory". Nelson writes, in most part: "I did not expect such a letter after all my attentions to your wishes, but never mind. I do not deserve any reproach from any man I hope. I wrote you first that any arrangement you made was perfectly agreeable to me. Mr. Aldrige came in the way and as he had been used to the Vict[or]y. I considered it the same thing to you, and so I still think. The new Purser of the Victory you know must be indifferent to me. I look to the captaining and I have repeatedly said to you that I could not have the least objection to your going in her. I think Capt. [Samuel] Sutton will get into a serious scrape with the Admiralty for giving you leave of absence. I understand she is very deficient till[?] Capt. Sutton judged himself for you, your recommendation shall be attended to. I never showed you any inattention and therefore little expected so unkind a letter, but I am still the same towards you..."

Nelson adds in a postscript: "I have influence with the Ad[miralt]y to get you or any man a first rate. I at this moment am soliciting for the removal of a namesake[?] from Purser of a Sloop to a frigate. I have no more paper[.] My kindest regards to Lord Hood I will write him as I go down channel."

Although he had taken command of the "H.M.S. Victory" as the flagship of the Mediterranean fleet, the ship was not yet ready to sail. Instead, Nelson transferred to the frigate "H.M.S. Amphion" on May 23. The "Victory", commanded by Captain Sutton, rejoined the Mediterranean fleet on July 31 and Nelson raised his flag over the ship once more.

Nelson's letter recipient John McArthur (1755-1840) was a longtime naval officer, beginning his career in 1778 as an assistant clerk aboard the "H.M.S. Eagle". In 1790, he developed a new set of code signals for the navy which brought him to the attention of Lord Hood, then serving as First Sea Lord, who made McArthur his personal secretary. When Hood became commander of naval forces in the Mediterranean, McArthur went aboard the "Victory", serving as his secretary and purser for the ship. He returned to England in 1796 and continued in his work for Lord Hood. McArthur came to the attention of Nelson through his role as a prize-agent.

When Nelson took command of the "Victory", he invited McArthur to join him as his secretary. Citing an ongoing audit of Lord Hood's accounts by the treasury, McArthur declined, though the real reason likely lay in his growing involvement in literary matters. He had already published "A Treatise on the Principles and Practice of Naval Courts-Martial" in 1792, and in 1809 he would write, with James Stanier Clark, the first authoritative biography of Nelson.

The present letter raises new questions about the relationship between McArthur and Nelson, and the nature of his original invitation to serve aboard the "Victory" as it appears that McArthur had written some unkind words to the admiral. At present, we have been unable to locate McArthur's letter to Nelson.

Provenance: Anderson Galleries, New York, March 26, 1917, lot 367.

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