Nelson Horatio
Horatio Nelson's Final Words from His Private Diary before He was Killed at the Battle of Trafalgar: His Celebrated "last codicil," Being His Effort to Have the Government Support His Mistress, Emma Hamilton, and Their Child, Horatia



Manuscript Document, 1 page, 9.75" x 15.75", "Victory," October 21, 1805 [but accomplished at a later time], being a contemporary true copy, in a clerical hand, of Nelson's last written words, entered in his diary as the Battle of Trafalgar began, copied from Nelson's original manuscript. Paper watermarked "1801" and docketed on verso, "Last Codicil of Lord Nelson 21 Oct. 1805" Expected folds, minor chip at lower right margin, small slip at bottom margin neatly cut and then re-attached with archival tape on verso, else fine condition overall.




An amazing contemporary copy of Nelson's effort to secure a pension for his mistress, Emma Hamilton, by crediting her with two major intelligence coups that contributed to the success of British arms over Napoleon. Dramatically headlined "Victory – October the 21st 1805 then in Sight of the Combined fleets of France and Spain distant about ten Miles," Nelson writes, in full: "Whereas The eminent services of Emma Hamilton Widow of the R[igh]t Hon[ora]ble Sir William Hamilton have been of the very greatest service to our King and Country, and to my knowledge without ever receiving any reward rom either our King our Country=. First that she obtained the King of Spains letter in 1796 to his brother the King of Naples acquainting her of his intention to declare War against England, from which letter the Ministry sent out orders to Sir John Jarvis to strike a stroke if opportunity offer'd against either the Arsenals of Spain or her Fleets, that neither of them was done, is not the fault of Lady Hamilton, the opportunity might have been offered.= Secondly the British Fleet under my Command would never have returned the second time to Egypt had not Lady Hamilton's influence with the Queen of Naples caused letters to be wrote to the Governor so Syracuse that he was to encourage the Fleet being supplied with every thing, should they put into that Post in Sicily.— We put into Syracuse ,and received every supply, went to Egypt and dstroy'd the French Fleet; could I have rewarded those services, I would not now call upon my Country, but as that has not been in my power, I leave Emma Lady Hamilton therefore a Legacy to my King and Country, that they will give her an ample provision to maintain her rank in life. I also leave to the beneficence of my Country my adopted Daughter Horatia Nelson Thompson, and I desire she will use in future the name of Nelson only. — These are the only favours I ask of my King and Country at this moment when I am going to fight their battles. — My God bless my King and Country and all those who I loved dear. — My Relations it is needless to mention they will of course be amply provided for."





Below the clerk has added Nelson's signature: "Nelson & Bronté" as well as the witnesses to the codicil, Henry Blackwood (1770-1832) and Thomas Masterson Hardy (1769-1839). According to the Victory's chaplain Alexander John Scott, in an affidavit sworn in June 1806, the wounded Nelson confided to him: "'I am dying Doctor remember me to Lady [Ham[ilton I have made a will and left her & Horatia a legacy [to my] Country." Following Nelson's demise, Scott, together Captain Hardy, "found in the escritoire [small writing desk] of the said Deceased a Book" containing his final codicil. (Hudson, ed., Nelson's Last Diary, 1918, 28).




Captain Hardy was entrusted with conveying the diary back to England where, according to one biographer, he was advised by government lawyers that it not be published as it freely discussed the actions of the Queen of Naples. Hardy left the paper with Nelson's brother, William in December 1805, retrieving it two months later in order to read to Lord Grenville, likely in an effort to obtain Parliamentary support for Nelson's final requests. Emma Hamilton's friends accused Nelson's brother William of withholding the document from her until he had secured generous provisions for himself and his family from Parliament. When he finally presented it to Lady Hamilton, William was said to have thrown it across her during an interview saying, "Do what you like with this..." (Hudson, ed., Nelson's Last Diary, 1918, 38-39).





Despite the efforts of Captain Hardy and other friends, Parliament did not bestow any honors or a pension upon Lady Hamilton or Horatia—despite Nelson's final and most earnest request. Lady Hamilton lived off the small inheritance that Nelson had bestowed upon her in a previous codicil, but soon fell into heavy debt—in part due to her efforts to maintain Nelson's estate, Merton Place, as a monument to the fallen hero. Destitute, she spent a year in debtor's prison before fleeing to Calais in an attempt to elude her creditors, where she died in 1815.




Rare. Material related to the H.M.S. Victory and Nelson's death at Trafalgar is extremely desirable. The original paper wrapper in which Capt. Hardy housed Nelson's final diary fetched nearly $25,000 at auction (Sotheby's, London, October 21, 2002, lot 77). The exact circumstances surrounding the production of the present copy are unknown, but it is quite likely that it was produced for the use of Emma Hamilton.



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