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| Letter signed Nelson & Bronte |
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ALS (autographed letter signed) “Nelson & Bronte”, 1 page, ink on paper and sealed in airtight mounting and frame, written from Nelson’s country house (“dear, dear Merton”) and dated March 17, 1802.
Horatio, Viscount Nelson, KB, Vice-Admiral of the White, Duke of Bronte (September 29, 1758 - October 21, 1805) to Captain Sutton, RN, one of Nelson’s “Band of Brothers”, ordering Captain Sutton to make a wayward young officer a Lieutenant, the first rung up the ladder of promotion, one of the foremost written examples of how favoritism worked in the British Navy of Nelson’s time. The order in the letter was apparently a favour for a shipmate of Captain Sutton’s own father, also a friend of Nelson’s.
Nelson, at this time, was at the height of his career, recently victorious at the Battles of the Nile and Copenhagen (one honour was being created Duke of Bronte), and openly living at Merton with his great love, Emma, Lady Hamilton, and their 14 month old daughter, Horatia. Their time at Merton was very short, however, and in May 1802, Nelson was appointed to command the Mediterranean Fleet, his task to bring the French and Spanish Fleets to action – which he accomplished on October 21, 1805 at the Battle of Trafalgar, England’s greatest sea victory, tarnished only by Nelson’s own death, just when he had been told of his great victory.
This example of Nelson’s correspondence is significant in that it was one of the few remaining examples written from Nelson’s home, Merton. It shows his complete influence in the Navy at this time and illustrates how promotion often took place by favoritism. For Nelson biographers, this document places him at Merton several months before generally assumed (March rather than October, 1802). Translation Merton March 17, 1802 My Dear Sutton, Mr. Tanny is to be made a Lieutenant whenever a promotion takes place. Why he was discharged from the St. Albans is not very clear but it appears from his own account not very criminal. If you see no objection, can you enter him in the Amazon as anything on your list. He is recommended by W. William Parry , late a surgeon in the Navy and an old shipmate of Commodore Sutton. I will write you this day, ever yours most truly, Nelson & Bronte Cap’t Sutton |
| Asking price 8049 United States Dollars |
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