War-dated hand-addressed envelope panel, 4.5 x 2.5, addressed by Nelson to "Lieut. Brown R.N., Transport Office, Liverpool," adding the date above, "London September fourth 1805," and signing in the lower left, "Nelson & Bronte." In very good condition, with two small edge chips and moderate overall soiling. Ten days later, on September 14, 1805, Nelson boarded HMS Victory at Portsmouth for the last time, after just a few weeks spent with his family following more than two years at sea. With full command of the British Royal Navy, Nelson would meet the combined fleet of France and Spain in the decisive Battle of Trafalgar in a little over a month's time. Shortly before boarding the Victory, Nelson wrote the following in his private diary: 'Friday night at half past Ten drove from dear Merton where I left all which I hold most dear in this World to go to serve my King & Country. May the Great God whom I adore enable me to fulfill the expectations of my Country and if it is his good pleasure that I should return my thanks will never cease being offered up to the Throne of his Mercy.'
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