History in Manuscript: Letters and Documents from a Distinguished Collection

History in Manuscript: Letters and Documents from a Distinguished Collection

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 155. King William IV | Autograph letter signed, to Lord Nelson, on naval affairs, 1804.

King William IV | Autograph letter signed, to Lord Nelson, on naval affairs, 1804

Margin SchemeUK: Greenford Park Warehouse

Lot Closed

April 13, 03:34 PM GMT

Estimate

1,500 - 2,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

King William IV, as Duke of Clarence


Autograph letter signed, to Lord Nelson


expressing the wish that the French Fleet would give Nelson the opportunity of beating them and noting his reaction to points in letters from Nelson about Elba, the risk of seeing 100,000 Russian troops in Italy, the possibility of them being joined by the French Fleet from the Black Sea, the career of [Admiral] Keats and Nelson's own health ("...I hope for the sake of the country you will be able to continue in the command of our fleet...Your Lordship is known to Europe and they [other distinguished officers] are unknown..."), 3 pages, 4to, second leaf mounted on an album leaf, Bushy House, 14 January 1804, slightly detached from mount


Letters to Nelson are rare, particularly from members of the royal family. At the time of writing, William, Duke of Clarence, was an Admiral in the Navy. The Duke was writing in answer to letters by Nelson of 18 February and 14 April, neither of which are published by Nicolas, The Dispatches and Letters.


PROVENANCE:

Sotheby's, London, 22 June 1988, lot 284

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