Beschreibung:

Autograph letter signed ("Ever Your Most Affectionate Nelson"), to his wife Frances, Lady Nelson ("My Dear Fanny"), apologising for the slackening off of his correspondence to her ("...If I do not write to You so often nor such long letters as I have formerly done pray attribute it to the true cause Viz - that in truth My poor hand cannot execute what my head tells Me I ought to do. As to writing a line to anyone else they may take it ill or well as they please..."), expressing hope that the French will soon be driven out of Italy ("...if so I shall seriously think of going home both Lord Spencer, E[ar]l St V[incen]t and their S[icilian] Majestys at present prevent me, by their opinion that I am of some use here..."), and enquiring after his father who has remained silent since the Battle of the Nile ("...how does Our Father it is very odd but very true that I have not received a Scrap of pen from him since he knew of the Battle of the Nile. You must remember Me kindly to all our family & my Father who I love dearly..."), one page, 4to, integral address leaf ("Lady Nelson/ Round Wood/ Ipswich/ Suffolk" redirected to 8 Sloane Street, London), remains of wafer-seal, Foreign Office, Lisbon and other postmarks, docketed by Nicholas Harris Nicolas as having come from the collection of Lady Hamilton (see below), some light dust-staining where folded, Palermo, 10 May 1799