Attack on Tenerife. 1797 (July 30) Handwritten order "By Horatio Nelson Esq., Rear Admiral of the Blue, Lieutenant John Weatherhead of His Majesty's Ship Theseus being killed, you are hereby required and directed to act as Lieutenant of the said ship until further orders, and for so doing this shall be your order, Given on board His Majestys Ship Theseus at sea, 30th July 1797" and directed "To Mr William Hoste hereby appointed to act as Lieut of H.M.S Theseus until further orders, By Command of the Rear Adml J. Hooper", signed "Horatio Nelson" using Nelson's left hand just five days after he had his right arm amputated after being shot during the attack on Tenerife. The "Theseus" was one of seven vessels involved in the unsuccessful attempt to capture the Spanish fortress at Santa Cruz, in which Weatherhead was one of over 100 men killed, and Nelson was wounded; the Spanish treated the wounded and allowed the British to reboard their ships, with all prisoners being exchanged, in return for the British promising to withdraw and not to fire on the town. William Hoste became a Captain in 1802 and captured or destroyed over 300 enemy ships in the Mediterranean during a successful career, that saw him created a Baronet in 1814. A remarkable early left hand Nelson signature, not recorded in "The Despatches and Letters of Lord Nelson" by Nicolas, who only records one Nelson letter signed with his left hand prior to this item. Photo on Page 111. (Image1)

Minorca/Naples. 1798 (Dec 6) Four page letter from Lord Nelson at Naples to Sir Charles Stuart, written entirely in Nelson's hand, "My Dear Sir, Allow me to congratulate you on the conquest of Minorca - an acquisition of a seaport invaluable to our country. I hurried from Egypt early in August, as, by Earl St Vincent's orders, I was in expectation of being summoned to attend you. However, I am sure my place was much better filled by Commodore Duckworth. The new war commenced here, is yet impossible to say how it may turn - whether it really hastens the ruin, or saves the Monarchy. At all events, if the King had not begun the war, he would have soon been kicked out of his Kingdom. The King is at Rome, but five hundred French still hold possession of St. Angelo. General Mack is gone to Civita Castellana, where thirteen thousand French have taken post. Mack's force with him is twenty thousand fine young men, but with some few exceptions wretchedly officered. If the French are not soon driven from their post, which is very strong by nature, Mack must fall back to the frontier on the side of Ancona - the French have drove back, to say no worse, the right wing of the Kings army, and taken all their baggage and artillery. The Emperor has not yet moved, and his Minister, Thugut, is not very anxious to begin a new war, but if he does not, Naples and Tuscany will fall in two months. I shall be happy if you will honour me at any time with your commands here or elsewhere, being with the highest respect, Your most obedient servant, Nelson. Commodore Duckworth's letters have not yet reached me". An interesting letter concerning the military situation in Europe, to Sir Charles Stuart who was promoted and knighted for the capture of Minorca. Written from Naples where Nelson was Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean overseeing the blockade of Malta, four months after his triumph in Egypt for which he was raised to the peerage with the title Baron Nelson of the Nile; Nelson learnt of his honour on November 17th 1798 when he began signing letters "Nelson". This form of signature was only used for 91/2 months, until the end of August 1799, when he was created Duke of Bronte and so signed letters "Nelson + Bronte". At the time of writing Nelson was also conducting his affair with Lady Hamilton, wife of the British Ambassador at the Neapolitan Court. An unusually long and interesting letter, entirely in Nelson's own hand, listed by Nicolas. Photo on Page 108. (Image1)

H.M.S Victory. 1805 (Sep 26) Handwritten order on notepaper headed "By the Right Honble LORD VISCOUNT NELSON, KB" with honours and rank printed in seven lines below this, "Pursuant to Instruction from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, You are hereby required and directed to put your self under command and follow and obey all such signals, orders and directions as you shall from time to time receive from me for His Majestys service. Given under my hand on board The Victory at sea the 26th day of September 1805" and directed to "Richard Thomas Esq., Commander of His Majestys Bomb Vessel Aetna, By Command of the Vice Admiral John Scott", signed "Nelson + Bronte". Overleaf is a memorandum also written and signed by Nelson's secretary John Scott giving additions to the signal book. H.M.S "Victory" sailed from Portsmouth on September 14th, joining the British fleet off Cadiz on the 28th; on October 21st Nelson led the British fleet to victory at the Battle of Trafalgar, both Nelson and John Scott being killed on the "Victory" during the battle, whilst Richard Thomas, Commander of the "Aetna" in the Mediterranean, was given command of the "Bellorophon" the day after Trafalgar. A fine Nelson + Bronte document signed on H.M.S "Victory" just 25 days before Nelson's death at the Battle of Trafalgar, not recorded by Nicolas. Photo on Page 112. (Image1)

1855 Letter written by R.H Hansett on H.M.S "Victory" at Portsmouth on notepaper headed with a fine engraving of "H.M.S Victory - 104 Guns lying off Portsmouth Dock Yard, The Ship in which Lord Nelson fell at the Battle of Trafalgar 21st Oct. 1805"; nineteenth century engravings of Nelson or the Battle of the Nile (3, one a plan of the battle) and other recent notes, copies etc.; and the seven volume paperback edition of "Despatches and Letters of Lord Nelson" by N. Nicolas (published 1997-98, original retail £126).