FROM ABOUKIR BAY, 1798 [NELSON (Horatio, Viscount, 1758-1805, Admiral)]

Fascinating Letter with secretarial signature 'Orazio Nelson', in Italian with translation, to Sir William HAMILTON (1730-1803, from 1764 British Ambassador at Naples, Husband of Emma Hamilton), saying that "as the greater part of the Squadron will be running down the Mediterranean, we will not need all the ... wine and biscuit ... previously ordered, so it will be possible to cancel what has not yet been got ready. I will settle all these matters if I can stay alive till ... I see Naples again", he has "the satisfaction of telling with certainty that the French army is full of sickness caused by the heat, and by having nothing to drink except water - which will result in the greater part of them being buried in Egypt", ending "I am ever yours", 1 side 4to., no place but Aboukir Bay, 12th August (Translation)
From Admiral Nelson to Sir William Hamilton. August 12 1798.
My dear Sir,
As the greater part of the Squadron will be running down the Mediterranean, we will not need all of the quantities of wine and biscuit which were previously ordered, so it will be possible to cancel what has not yet been got ready. I will settle all these matters if I can stay alive till the moment I see Naples again.
I have the satisfaction of telling you with certainty that the French army is full of sickness caused by the heat, and by having nothing to drink except water - which will result in the greater part of them being buried in Egypt. I am ever yours [secretarial signature in the same hand] Horatio Nelson.

Written only 11 days after the Battle of the Nile, 1st-3rd August 1798. Nelson had caught up with the French fleet at Aboukir Bay. In an epic battle he had destroyed or captured all but four of the French warships, which had fled, leaving Napoleon and his army ashore and unprotected.
Having missed Napoleon on the first chase, Nelson had last revictualled at Syracuse in Sicily, leaving again for Egypt on 24th July. He was heavily reliant for supplies on Sir William Hamilton's good offices with Ferdinand IV. No doubt he envisaged a substantial campaign in Egypt. Now he is able to report that his fleet is returning and that anything so far prepared will suffice.
Nelson's first dispatches home, on 5th August, were captured off Crete. This letter of the 12th August will have accompanied those carried next day on Mutine - the first to reach London. Nelson himself reached Naples on September 22nd, amid universal rejoicing. It was only the third time he had met Lady Hamilton, who fainted at the sight of the hero. Thereafter the Hamiltons cared for him while he slowly recovered his health and from the severe head wound he had sustained on the night of the battle.

Item Date:  1798

Stock No:  55711      £2275

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