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Auction: 25003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 139

(x) Sir William Hamilton autograph letter, the husband of the infamous Lady Emma Hamilton who was Lord Nelson’s longtime mistress, this letter addressed to Lord Isaac Hood and written just days prior to Nelson’s arrival in Naples and his first meeting with Emma

Letter written and signed by William Hamilton in Naples, addressed to Lord Isaac Hood and dated 4 September 1793, attempted tape repairs to spine on reverse, pages largely separated but the condition of the letter is good, text clear and legible

The letter includes a discussion of Hood’s fleet, in which Sir Hamilton notes “two Neapolitan frigates that were ready here according to your Lordships desire to join Captain Inglefield’s little squadron, on his leaving no occasion for them are ordered to join your Lordship immediately”. He further mentions Captains Cunningham and Inglefield and the “very cordial reception they have met with here from the Court of Naples” and discusses the date by which the French Minister will leave the kingdom of Naples, “The French Mnister…is ordered to leave this kingdom before the 8th of this month and all other French, except by particular favor of the Court.”

Sir William Hamilton served as the longtime British ambassador to the Court of Naples, which with the outbreak of war with France in 1793 suddenly occupied a position of great strategic importance. Sir Hamilton accordingly played an essential diplomatic role in rallying Neapolitan support for the British, a role which is illustrated in this letter written to Admiral Hood.

The Bay of Naples was one of increasingly few safe harbours in the Mediterranean for the Royal Navy, and there Nelson arrived with his fleet on a diplomatic mission to gather reinforcements against the French. During his short visit Nelson was a guest of Sir Hamilton and his wife Emma, to whom he had been married since 1791. There, Nelson and Emma met for the first time on 10 September. While their storied romance would not begin for another five years, Nelson recounted the impression made upon him by Lady Hamilton in a letter to his wife, Fanny, writing “She is a young woman of amiable manners and who does honour to the station to which she has been raised.”



Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£300 to £500

Starting price
£240