Horatio Nelson, Viscount Nelson (1758-1805) - photo 1

Horatio Nelson, Viscount Nelson (1758-1805)

Lot 54
10.07.2024 10:30UTC +01:00
Classic
Sold
£ 4 410
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 1249861
Lot 54 | Horatio Nelson, Viscount Nelson (1758-1805)
Estimate value
£ 4 000 – 6 000
Horatio Nelson, Viscount Nelson (1758-1805)
Autograph letter signed (‘Horatio Nelson’), with his right hand, to Admiral Hood, ‘Camp’ [near Calvi, Corsica], 6 July 1794
One page, 248 x 188mm, bifolium, docketed on f.2v.

Directing operations during the siege of Calvi, six days before he lost his eye. Nelson writes to Hood on the urgency of mounting at least one cannon in an advanced position during the night’s operations: ‘General Stuart is very anxious if Your Lordship cannot get two 18 P[ounder]s on the point inside Revelata, that one may be got, as it will take much fire from our battery, which I have now no doubt will be opened at daylight tomorrow morning. If opportunity offers during the feint of this night, Monachesco may probably be stormed.’

Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood (1724-1816), commander in chief of the British Mediterranean fleet, led the successful campaign to capture Corsica for the British crown in 1794 at the invitation of Pasquale Paoli: operations on land were entrusted to Nelson, in collaboration with infantry under Lieutenant-general Sir Charles Stuart (1753-1801). Having captured Bastia on 23 May, Stuart and Nelson landed an expeditionary force on 17 June near Calvi. The attack on Monachesco referred to in this letter involved dragging cannon overnight over La Revellata, a hill to the northern side of the city, with the intention of occupying the attention of the French whilst Nelson established a battery close to the crucial Fort Mozello, which duly fell on 18 July. Calvi eventually surrendered on 10 August.

A letter written to Hood on the following day, 7 July 1794, sold at Christie’s on 20 November 2013, lot 71 (£8,750). It was whilst directing gunnery operations only six days later, on 12 July, that Nelson sustained damage to his right eye from stones ricocheting from enemy shot, leading to the permanent loss of sight in the eye. Nicolas, Dispatches and letters, 1844, I 421.
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
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10.07.2024 – 10.07.2024
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