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Auction: 13050 - Postal History and Historical documents
Lot: 2072

Historical Documents
Horatio Nelson
1803 (5 Oct.) Naval Orders sent by Nelson on the Victory, signed "Nelson & Bronte". Addressed to Sir George Hart, Esq., Captain of His Majesty's Ship Monmouth, By command of the Vice Admiral John Scott.
The orders read, "By the Right Honble Lord Viscount Nelson K.B., Duke of Bronte in Sicily, Knight of the Great Crofs of St. Ferdinand and of Merit, Knight of the Order of the Crescent and of the Illustrious Order of St. Joachino, Vice Admiral of the Blue and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Ships and Vefsls, Employed and the be Employed on the Mediterranean Station.
Having directed the Convoy from Malta under the Charge of Captain Tyffe of His Majesty's Ship Cyclops, to proceed from that place as soon after the first instant as pofsible, for Gibraltar, where he is directed to remain 'till further order. You are hereby required and directed on the arrival of that ship and the Charon at Gibraltar, to take them and their Commanders under your order, together with the Captain of His Majesty's Ship Ambuscade, and the whole of the Trade which are bound to any part of the united Kingdom, and proceed with them as soon as Ambuscade is ready to accompany you, taking also under Your Convoy and protection and transports or Victuallers which may be desirous to avail themselves of your protection, and proceed with them to the places of their destination with all convenient dispatch, endeavouring to collect the Trade from Malaga and also from Cadiz which you learn are there waiting for Convoy, if it shall, from the latter place, be considered practicable so to do.
Should there be any of the Trade under your protection bound to Ireland or the Bristol Channel, you are to make the signal for parting Company, when you deem it proper, and send the Charon to see them safe to their destination, directing her Commander after having so done, to make the best of his way to Spithead, and report his arrival and proceeding to the Admiralty. You are to continue on with the rest of your convoy, dropping such as are bound to Ports in the Channel on your way up, sending the Cyclops after you shall arrive off Dunnose, on to the Downs with the Trade bound to the Eastward, (if she is deemed a sufficient protection for them) and make the best of your way to Spithead with the Monmouth and Ambuscade, unlefs you judge it necefsary to accompany the Cyclops and Convoy to the Downs, in which case you will send the Ambuscande to Spithead with directs to her Captain to acquaint the Admiraly of his arrival, which you will also do on your anchoring in the Downs, as above, and transmit as account of your proceeding to Sir Evan Napier Bart, for their Lordships information, and wait their orders for your further proceedings. Given on board the Victory off Toulon the 5th October 1803". Some folding creases but still on good condition. Photo

16th May, Britain declared war on France.
18th May Nelson hoisted his flag on H.M.S. Victory.
6th July Joined the Mediterranean Fleet to keep a permanent blockade of Toulon to prevent the French escaping to join the rest of the Franco-Spanish fleet with blockades of Toulon and Cadiz.

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