The key facts

  • Around 400 letters and documents of Nelson are up for sale at Sotheby's with an estimate of £4–6 million ($5.3–8 million)
  • The collection was assembled over decades by British businessman Clive Richards
  • Nelson's 1800 letter about a dream of Hamilton previously sold at Christie's in 2003 for nearly £120,000

Major collection of Nelson's letters on sale in London

An extensive archive of letters of the British naval commander Horatio Nelson has been put up for auction at Sotheby's in London. In the letters, the vice-admiral, who won victories over revolutionary France and Napoleon and died at the Battle of Trafalgar, fantasizes about his beloved Emma Hamilton, discusses battle plans and writes after losing his arm. The lot is expected to fetch millions: the estimate is £4–6 million ($5.3–8 million). The collection of approximately 400 letters and other historical documents was assembled over decades by British businessman Clive Richards, who admired Nelson. Sotheby's specialist in books and manuscripts Gabriel Heaton called the collection 'absolutely stunning' and noted that it stands out for covering all aspects of Nelson's life and career. Bidding will remain open until 18 November; many of the letters are on display at Sotheby's.

Love letters to Hamilton

Nelson lived scandalously and openly with Hamilton, a society beauty, although both were married; their correspondence testifies to mutual devotion. By contrast, in a message to his wife he wrote that he was too busy to write often. Hamilton kept Nelson's love letters. In one of them, written at sea in 1800, Nelson reports that 'last night I did nothing but dream of you,' describing how she embraced him and whispered 'I love no one but you, my Nelson,' after which he kissed her 'passionately' and they 'enjoyed the summit of love.' This letter was sold at Christie's in 2003 for nearly £120,000. After the victory at Copenhagen in 1801, shortly after the birth of his child by Hamilton, Nelson wrote that he was 'very tired after a hard-fought battle' — yet still composed a short love poem.

Letters written after the loss of his arm and Trafalgar documents

After Nelson's right arm was shattered by a musket ball in 1797, he had to learn to write with his left hand. In one letter, written shortly after the injury, he apologizes, after which the lines break off and the letter is finished by his wife. 'You can see that he is struggling. He forms the letters quite clearly, but it is hard work,' Heaton told the AFP agency. In subsequent letters the handwriting remained messier than before, but emphatic, with frequent underlining. The collection also includes Nelson's signature on the battle plans of the Battle of Trafalgar.

Hamilton's letters and her fate

Nelson burned Hamilton's letters, and only two of her letters are known — both were acquired by Richards. In one, hastily written in October 1805, Hamilton writes: 'how I adore you, my dear Man of my Heart, you are everything to me in this world, your Emma,' and appeals 'God keep you.' This letter reached Nelson only after his death — he was killed by a bullet on the deck of his ship HMS Victory. Hamilton's final letters, according to AFP, contain pleas to friends for financial help: she spent time in a debtors' prison and then fled to France, where she died in 1815.