HARDY (VICE-ADMIRAL SIR THOMAS MASTERMAN)

Autograph letter signed ("T.M. Hardy") to his sister Martha, expressing his grief at the death of Nelson, "Victory, off Cape Finistyre", 17 November 1805: 'THE LOSS OF MY DEAR FRIEND IS IRREPARABLE': HARDY MOURNS THE DEATH OF HIS FRIEND ADMIRAL NELSON AS THE 'VICTORY' RETURNS TO ENGLAND AFTER THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR

Autograph letter signed ("T.M. Hardy") to his sister ("My dear Martha"), en route to Portsmouth "...with a ship in a very crippled state and her Captain I assure you in very bad spirits and only fit to go on shore to attempt the recovery of an almost worn out constitution...", expressing his grief at the death of Nelson ("...My misfortune in the loss of my Dear Friend is irreparable and I shall have to lament it as long as I live. As the subject is melancholy to me and not very pleasant to you I shall here let it rest..."), going on say that due to his bad health he is "...determined to leave the Victory as soon as I possibly can and will be unemployed again till my health is reestablished..." and hopes to go to his house in Dorset ("...we have had some very bad weather and I am sorry to say that the Wind is now foul and every appearance of a continuation of Easterly Winds..."), integral address panel with remains of black wax seal, 3 pages on a bifolium, creased and with some wear at folds, torn with loss where seal opened, 4vo (236 x 185mm.), "Victory, off Cape Finistyre", 17 November 1805

Provenance:
Martha Hardy at Portesham House, Dorchester
Thence by descent

'THE LOSS OF MY DEAR FRIEND IS IRREPARABLE': HARDY MOURNS THE DEATH OF HIS FRIEND ADMIRAL NELSON AS THE VICTORY RETURNS TO ENGLAND AFTER THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR.

The name of Thomas Masterman Hardy is inextricably linked to the death of Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805 as the man to whom Nelson's dying words were addressed, and he writes here in his grief from the beleaguered Victory, which, after having gone in for repairs at Gibraltar, now limps back to Portsmouth "in a very crippled state" carrying his "dear friend" Nelson's body.

During the battle the Victory received significant damage and sustained many casualties, including Nelson's secretary John Scott. As Hardy and Nelson patrolled the quarterdeck together, a splinter ricocheted off Hardy's buckle, injuring his foot and prompting the comment from Nelson "This is too warm work to last long". Despite the smoke and tumult, the decorations on the Admiral's uniform were clearly visible but he refused to take up Hardy's suggestion of wearing something less conspicuous and was thus an easy target for a French marksman. Hardy was alongside Nelson when he took the fatal shot and was famously with Nelson when he died below decks a few hours later. In accordance with Nelson's instructions, his body was placed in a cask of brandy and secured to the mainmast on the middle deck of the Victory until it was transferred to a lead lined coffin filled with spirits of wine in Gibraltar for the remainder of the journey, finally arriving in Portsmouth on 4 December.

Hardy first came to Nelson's attention in 1793 whilst lieutenant of the frigate Meleager in the squadron off Genoa and was on the Minerve when Nelson took over in December 1796. The gallant way in which he conducted himself in her encounter with the Santa Sabina earned him Nelson's respect and appreciation and the two men formed a bond of mutual respect and friendship. In one much documented episode Hardy jumped into a boat in an attempt to save a drowning man and, whilst the boat was carried by the current towards the Spanish ships Nelson cried '...'By God... I'll not lose Hardy! Back the mizen topsail!'. This bold measure caused the Spanish ship to hesitate and shorten sail, enabling the boat to reach the frigate in safety...' (Laughton and Lambert, ODNB). They served together at the Battle of Cape St Vincent and at the battle of the Nile, immediately after which Hardy was promoted to Nelson's flagship, the Vanguard and later the Foudroyant. He became flag captain of the Victory in July 1803 and was in post when Nelson embarked in September 1805. Together with Captain Henry Blackwood he witnessed Nelson's last will and at the state funeral on 9 January 1806 Hardy carried the 'banner of emblems'.