Letter from Lord Nelson

Written by Horatio Nelson with his left hand about six months after losing his right hand at the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The letter, to his friend Thomas Lloyd, tells of a night in a box at the theatre: his Lordship did not tell me all its charms, that generally some of the handsomest Ladys at Bath are partakers in the Box, and was a bachelor I would not answer for being tempted, but as I am possessed of every thing which is valuable in a Wife I have no occasion to think beyond a pretty face…

He also writes of his of his eagerness to get to sea again: I expect great consolation every time I cut a slice of Salt beef instead of Mutton…

The letter held by the State Library has a watermark – the mark of quality paper woven into the page during the manufacturing process. Individual papermakers had their own, often quite elaborate, watermarks. The watermark of the Nelson letter showed that the paper had been produced by James Whatman, a maker of high quality paper in Kent, between 1748 and 1805.

Permission to use this item for any purpose, including publishing, is not required from the State Library under these conditions of use.

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