Description:

HORATIO NELSON
(1758 - 1805) British naval officer whose brilliant tactics made the British fleet victorious in battles against the French at the Nile and Trafalgar where he was mortally wounded by a sniper. Good content manuscript L.S. 'Horatio Nelson' (a bold example with his left hand, just months after his right arm had been amputated), 1p. sm. folio, London, Nov. 11, 1797 to 'James Crow'. In part: '...I am this day favoured by your transmission to me of the Unanimous Vote of thanks which the Corporation of Norwich have been pleased to Honor me with, and also that they have honoured me with the freedom of their City...' and continues to ask that his thanks be expressed to the leaders of the city for: '...enrolling my Name amongst the Honorary Freemen of their ancient and most respectable City...', further thanking Crowe for: '...the very flattering language in which you have conveyed the high Honor wch. the City of Norwich have conferred upon me...'. Nelson concludes his letter: '...Whenever the service which I owe my King and Country will permit of my coming into Norfolk I shall then take the first opportunity of Personally thanking the Corporation of Norwich….' With blank integral leaf. A few very minor, small clean splits at the edges of a couple of folds and with some light age toning to the margins, not affecting the text or signature, otherwise very good. James Crowe (c.1750-1807) was a British surgeon who served as Mayor of Norwich in 1774 and 1797. This letter was signed by Nelson at an important stage in his career, regarded by the military historian Colin White as: 'arguably the most important year of his [Nelson's] life - his Year of Destiny,' further observing that: 'It brought him victory, and the popular adulation he craved, at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent against the Spanish in February and disaster, and a crippling wound, when his attack on Tenerife in July was bloodily repulsed. Above all, however, his actions in 1797 established his reputation as one of the leading lights of his profession and led directly to the appointment that was to raise him to the status of national hero in 1798.' (from 'Nelson - The New Letters' edited by Colin White, 2005). Having returned to England to convalesce, Nelson moved to London in October 1797 to seek expert medical attention for his amputated arm. He spent the last months of the year slowly recuperating and it was during this time that he was awarded the Freedom of the City of London (as well as Norwich, here) and a pension of £1000 per annum. During his lifetime Nelson was voted a Freeman of a number of cities and boroughs, though Norwich, in his home county of Norfolk, would have been most endearing honor bestowed to the great admiral. Ex: Sotheby's, December 1992.

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December 8, 2021 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

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