Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Nelson (Horatio, Lord), autograph letter signed to ‘Capt. Ryves’, dated aboard H.M.S. ‘Victory, Octr. 8th. 1803’

‘Dear Sir
I am much obliged by your letter of Sept. 20th. and for the trouble you have taken about the Wood at the Madalena Islands. His Excellency Mr. Elliot will request you to see the Neapolitan Troops safe to Messina which if not already perf[ormed] I am sure you have or will have complied with. We have had nothing but severe gales of wind since you left us, but we get on very well. The Monmouth was only five days to Cape Sicie, but we were blown off. I am, dear Sir, with real esteem, your much obliged and obedient servant,
Nelson & Bronte
The Childers is not to be detained on any account.

1 single page, 4to, integral blank, some slight discolouration on folds, and small section missing at centre, with minor tear £2000-3000

Provenance: recorded in The Letters and Despatches of Lord Nelson (Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas, 1844) as being in possession of the recipient’s son, Captain G. F. Ryves, C.B.

On the renewal of hostilities with France, Lord Nelson was selected for the command in the Mediterranean, and he hoisted his Flag in H.M.S. Victory at Spithead on 18 May 1803, taking with him Captain Hardy. He joined his Squadron in the Mediterranean on 8 July 1803, and was for the next six months with the Squadron either off Toulon or at anchor at the Madalena Islands. During the course of this period his public correspondence was chiefly with Mr. Hugh Elliot, the British Minister at Naples, who had sailed from England with Nelson. The Brig Childers had arrived from Plymouth on 6 October with communications, and also ‘had secret orders to execute’ (letter from Nelson to Hugh Elliot, also dated 8 October 1803 refers).

George Frederick Ryves, of H.M.S. Gibraltar, an Officer of reputation, had, when in the Agincourt, commanded a small Squadron sent by Lord Keith in 1802, to take possession of Corfu, and thence to the Madalena Islands, to do all in his power without using force, to prevent the French from taking possession of them. There not being any chart of those islands, he constructed a very accurate survey, of which Lord Nelson often spoke in his letters in terms of high commendation. For his services to the King of Naples His Majesty presented him with a diamond ring. Captain Ryves was promoted to Flag rank in 1825, and died in May 1826.

Sold together with a slightly damaged copy of Southey’s Life of Nelson.

Withdrawn