A LETTER FROM LORD NELSON

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24633, 1 August 1945, Page 8

A LETTER FROM LORD NELSON

OLD COPY FOUND IN CHRISTCHURCH

POSSIBLE HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE

An obviously very old but perfectly i legible copy of a letter written by Lord Nelson on his tlagship Victory, ; off Martinique, in June, 1805, to a perI sonal friend in Jamaica, has been dis- ! covered in Christchurch. The letter I was at first assumed by Iho present ] owner to be in Nelson's own handj writing, but comparison by Dr. it. A. Falla, director of the Canterbury I Museum, with facsimiles of the famous i seaman's writing showed that this was ! not the case. i Dr. Falla intends to send photographs i and the text of the letter to the Naj tional Maritime Museum, Greenwich, the director of which, Sir Geoffrey ; Callender, is the leading British naval I historian. The letter is addressed to | “Simon Taylor. Esq., Jamaica,” and Dr. Falla suggested yesterday that it might have some considerable interest to historians both for its pertinent comments by Nelson on the movements of his own ships and of the French and Spanish fleets of Napoleon, which he was seeking to bring to battle in the West Indies, and for its definition of Nelson’s attitude to one of the great political controversies of the day, the slave trade. This was then a political rather than a humanitarian question, and Nelson expresses in his letter the conviction that abolition would mean ruin for his friends, the West Indian planters. Dr. Falla said it might be that the text of the letter was known to historians from some other source. It was possible, too, that “Simon Taylor, Esq,’’ was known to historians. There was some possibility that the writing might be recognised as that of an associate of Nelson or Simon Taylor. Dr. Falla said he had considered the possibility that the letter was actually written on the Victory by a naval secretary, although it was the sort of personal letter that Nelson might have been expected to write in his own hand. The fact that the text of the letter and the signature are in the same hand-writing was against this theory, said Dr, Falla, but he was unable to say whether it was the practice in those days for secretaries to sign letters dictated to them. The most likely explanation was that the letter was a copy made by some member of “Simon Taylor’s’’ family and brought to New Zealand. . The letter, mounted between two sheets of glass, was found with some old rubbish and household odds and ends in the home of a retired Army captain who died about a year ago. The new tenant who moved into his home, where he had lived 23 years, placed no value on the relic, which was the plaything of children for nearly a year. Retrieved recently from the top of a cupboard, where the weight of other stored articles had broken the glass but failed to damage the letter itself, the document was taken to Dr. Falla and subsequently to the office of “The Press." The text of the letter is as follows, the spelling being recorded as written: Victory, 10th June, 1803. Off Martinaco. My Dear Sir. I was in a thousand cares for Jamaica for that is a blow which Bonaparte would be happy to give us, I had no hesitation in forming my judgment and I flew to the West Indies without any orders but I think the Ministry cannot be displeased. Information at Barbadoes from St. Lucia told us that the Enemy’s Squadron had sailed with 5000 troops on the 28th May and were seen standing to the Southward, therefore Tobago, Trinidad, or Grenada was supposed their object. I went to those islands but now find that the whole was a fabrication for that the Enemy did not leave Fortroyal till the night of the sth June, on the 6th were under Dominica, on the 7th under Guadaloupe standing to the Northward supposed either to try or carry Antigua or are trying to escape from me. The Carthagena Squadron was at sea but returned on hearing I was close to them. They could have no troops on board which ought to make my Jamaica friends alarmed, when 1 am satisfied they are on their return after sending some of the Spanish ships to the Havannahs. I shall push hard to get off the Straight’s Mouth before them and kind Providence may some happy day bless my endeavours to serve the Public of which the West India Colonies form so prominent and interesting a part. ... I ever have been and shall die a firm friend to our present Colonial system. I was bred as you know in the good old school and taught to appreciate the value of our West India possessions, and neither in the field or in the Senate shall their interest be infringed whilst I have an arm to fight in their defence, or a tongue to launch my voice against the damnable and sacred doctine of Wilberforce and his hyppocritical allies, and I hope my berth in Heaven will be as exalted as his who would certainly cause the murder of all our friends and fellow subjects in the Colonies. However I did not intend to go so far but the sentiments are full in my heart and the Penn would write them. I shall as soon as I have done with this Fleet go to England for a few months and if you have time and inclination I should be very glad to hear from you. We are now of 30 years acquaintance, and as ever, my dear Mr Taylor Your faithfull and oblig'd serv’t Nelson and Bronte. To Simon Taylor, Esq. Jamaica. The Rev D. Scott, Rector of St. Johns, Jamaica, is a staunch friend of mine in Jamaica. I am very sorry to find he has lost his living by some new law. The Doctor desires his best remembrances and good wishes to you. lie is a worthy and good man and an old friend of mine. If any of my old Jamaica friends are near you I beg to be kindly remembered to them. June 12th, Antigua—The Combined Squadron passed Antigua on the Bth. lam after them. Jamaica is safe, on which I congratulate you most sincerely.