Incredible Lord Nelson ALS "It is not my intention to close watch Toulon" Written While commanding a Loose Blockade In Hopes of Luring Napoleon & the French Out for Battle.

ALS, likely written from aboard the HMS Victory by Horatio Nelson who in May of 1803, took command in the Mediterranean, hoisting his flag in the Victory. The ALS is written to Captain R. Mowbray and is boldly signed by Nelson as "Nelson + Bronte." (Nelson signed his name incorporating part of the honorific title, the Duke of Bronté, bestowed upon him by the Kingdom of Sicily in 1799.) Flattened folds, toning and foxing, else fine. 9" x 7 1/4", dated August 12, 1803,

In full:

Dear Sir,

It is not my intention to close watch Toulon, even with frigates for I see the gentlemen want one of our frigates. When we come in sight of Sicil, join me, and I will further explain my intentions, but I beg you will not keep too close to (?) or Sicil in the night. I am, dear sir, your

most obedient servant. 

Nelson + Bronte"

Nelson boarded the HMS Victory at Portsmouth joining the British blockade off Toulon, France in July 1803, where he would spend the next year and a half enforcing a loose blockade in hopes of luring the French to battle. 

As part of Napoleon's plans to invade England, the French and Spanish fleets combined to take control of the English Channel and provide the Grande Armée safe passage. The allied fleet, under the command of the French admiral, Pierre-Charles Villeneuve, sailed from the port of Cádiz in the south of Spain on October 18, 1805, where they would encounter the British fleet operating under Lord Nelson off Cape Trafalgar.

Nelson was outnumbered, with 27 British ships of the line to 33 allied ships including the largest warship in either fleet, the Spanish Santísima Trinidad. To address this imbalance, Nelson sailed his fleet directly at the allied battle line's flank, hoping to break it into pieces and the plan worked almost perfectly. The ensuing battle would lead to 22 allied ships being lost, while the British lost none.

This tactic exposed the leading ships in the British lines to intense fire from multiple ships as they approached the Franco-Spanish lines. Nelson's own HMS Victory led the front column and was almost knocked out of action. Nelson was shot by a French musketeer and died shortly before the battle ended. 

Nelson's victory at the Battle of Trafalgar would establish British naval supremacy for more than 100 years and shatter Napoleon's plans to invade England.

Horatio Nelson is generally regarded as the greatest officer in the history of the Royal Navy. His reputation is based on a series of remarkable victories, culminating in the Battle of Trafalgar where he was killed in his moment of triumph. His victory at the Battle of Trafalgar would establish British naval supremacy for more than 100 years and shatter Napoleon's plans to invade England. The poet Byron referred to him as "Britannia's God of War".

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!