NELSON HORATIO: (1758-1805) British Admiral during the Napoleonic Wars, the victor of the Battle of Trafalgar, 1805. An excellent, historic D.S., Nelson & Bronte, two pages, folio, Medusa off Boulogne, 5th August 1801. The manuscript document takes the form of an address to be delivered to ‘the Respective Captains & Commanders’ of his squadron and states, in full, ‘Lord Nelson has reason to be very much satisfied with the Captains of the Bombs for their placing their Vessels yesterday, it was impossible they could have been better situated and the artillery officers have shewn great skill in entirely disabling ten of the Armed Vessels out of 24 opposed to them, and many of the others Lord Nelson believes are much damaged. The Commander in Chief cannot avoid noticing the great zeal and desire to attack the Enemy in a closer and different Combat which manifested itself in all ranks of Persons, and which Lord Nelson would gladly have given full scope to, had the attempt at this moment been proper, but the officers and men may rely that an early opportunity shall be given them for shewing their judgment and zeal & Bravery. The Hired & Revenue Cutters kept under sail and performed the duty entrusted to them with a great deal of skill’. Signed by Nelson at the foot of the first page. Further signed to the verso by each of the fourteen Captains and Commanders to whom the address was delivered, beneath a statement, in full, ‘This is to give particular directions to the officers entrusted with those divisions to make use of every Exertion in their Power to Tow the Bombs out in case of necessity and strictly to obey every order they may receive from the Captains of the Bomb’, the signatures comprising Lieutenant Charles Champion (HMS Snipe), Lieutenant R. Dobbin (HMS Eclipse), Lieutenant Pat Manderston (HMS Minx), Lieutenant John Read (HMS Mallard), Lieutenant David Williams (HMS Mariner), Lieutenant J. Ides Short (HMS Bold), Lieutenant T. L. Robins (HMS Teazer), Lieutenant Mends (HMS Ferreter), Lieutenant Lau. Dund. Bruce (HMS Bruiser), Lieutenant John Gardner (HMS Tigress), Lieutenant H. Le Vesconte (HMS Jamaica; Le Vesconte was killed just over two weeks later on 20th August), Lieutenant George Broads (HMS Diligence), Lieutenant Robert Pritchard (HMS Gannet) and the Captain of HMS Eugenie. Each have signed their names alongside the names of their ships. A rare and significant document, with good content, enhanced by the signatures of all the members of Nelson’s squadron. A couple of light stains and some minor ink blots, not affecting Nelson’s signature, otherwise VG

On the 12th July 1801 the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte had issued an order for the assemblage at Boulogne of nine divisions of gun-vessels from the French Fleet, which the English considered to be a preparation for the invasion of England. Although British intelligence doubted that the French invasion would take place Nelson, who had recently returned from the Baltic, received instructions from the Admiralty to be employed in the defence of the country and to destroy, if practicable, the French vessels and craft in the ports wherein they may be assembled. All the intelligence pointed to Boulogne as the main port in which the French invasion craft were gathering, so Nelson set course there. With the 18-pounder 32-gun frigate HMS Medusa as his flagship, Nelson arrived at the port of Boulogne on the evening of 3rd August. At 05.00 am the next day the division of bomb vessels was placed ahead of the rest of the squadron and the attack began, although Nelson was aware that a long-distance naval bombardment was unlikely to be decisive. The bomb vessels bombarded the French defensive line moored in front of Boulogne for sixteen hours, firing between 750 and 848 shots. The French forces were unable to respond to the British fire because of the poor state of their gunpowder. The present document was signed by Nelson the following day, 5th August, following the attack, when the Vice Admiral realised that the French flotilla didn't offer any serious risk to England. Nevertheless on the night of the 16th August, Nelson returned with the intention of destroying the French flotilla, attacking with seventy boats and nearly two thousand men organized into four divisions.