NELSON, Horatio. Autograph letter (in the 3rd person) to the Lord Mayor Elect (of London), Merton, 8 November 1802 , declining to attend a dinner at the Guildhall on the Lord Mayor's Day and explaining that this is because the City of London has not paid due approbation to the men under his command, 3 pages, 4to (small tear in blank upper margin and at centre fold with part loss of one word, affixed to paper). An outspoken letter, expressing Nelson's great anger at the apparent official indifference to the victors of the battle of Copenhagen. 'Lord Nelson having waited with the greatest patience untill every Individual who had rendered the smallest service to the Country had been thanked by the City of London, wrote a letter to the Lord Mayor (Sir John Eamer) stating his sorrow that those who fought the most Bloody Battle in this or Lord Nelson believes in any other War, had not had the Honor to receive the same mark of approbation as had been bestowed on Others'. He was persuaded, he continues, to withdraw this letter, but his sentiments are unchanged as are his feelings for 'those Brave Captains Officers and Men who so bravely fought, profusely bled and obtained such a glorious compleat and most impor[tant] Victory ... he cannot meet his fellow citizens on November 9th'. Much of Nelson's early correspondence from Merton concerned the need for pensions and other assistance for officers and men who had been wounded, particularly at Copenhagen, often regarded as his most difficult battle. He repeated his complaints to Downing Street, that no medals had been awarded for this battle and that the City which had voted its thanks for the Egyptian campaign remained silent. It was surmised that this was to avoid offending that part of Sir Hyde Parker's fleet not involved in the action, or the Danes. Nelson refused in September 1802 to dine with the Corporation, and in the present letter with the Lord Mayor. In 1804 he pursued the matter, unsuccessfully, with the new First Lord. Twenty-five years after his death his Captains were still petitioning in vain for the recognition he had so wished for the veterans of the hard won victory in the Baltic.
NELSON, Horatio. Autograph letter (in the 3rd person) to the Lord Mayor Elect (of London), Merton, 8 November 1802 , declining to attend a dinner at the Guildhall on the Lord Mayor's Day and explaining that this is because the City of London has not paid due approbation to the men under his command, 3 pages, 4to (small tear in blank upper margin and at centre fold with part loss of one word, affixed to paper). An outspoken letter, expressing Nelson's great anger at the apparent official indifference to the victors of the battle of Copenhagen. 'Lord Nelson having waited with the greatest patience untill every Individual who had rendered the smallest service to the Country had been thanked by the City of London, wrote a letter to the Lord Mayor (Sir John Eamer) stating his sorrow that those who fought the most Bloody Battle in this or Lord Nelson believes in any other War, had not had the Honor to receive the same mark of approbation as had been bestowed on Others'. He was persuaded, he continues, to withdraw this letter, but his sentiments are unchanged as are his feelings for 'those Brave Captains Officers and Men who so bravely fought, profusely bled and obtained such a glorious compleat and most impor[tant] Victory ... he cannot meet his fellow citizens on November 9th'. Much of Nelson's early correspondence from Merton concerned the need for pensions and other assistance for officers and men who had been wounded, particularly at Copenhagen, often regarded as his most difficult battle. He repeated his complaints to Downing Street, that no medals had been awarded for this battle and that the City which had voted its thanks for the Egyptian campaign remained silent. It was surmised that this was to avoid offending that part of Sir Hyde Parker's fleet not involved in the action, or the Danes. Nelson refused in September 1802 to dine with the Corporation, and in the present letter with the Lord Mayor. In 1804 he pursued the matter, unsuccessfully, with the new First Lord. Twenty-five years after his death his Captains were still petitioning in vain for the recognition he had so wished for the veterans of the hard won victory in the Baltic.
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
