Nelson (Horatio) Manuscript document signed by Admiral

Nelson (Horatio, Admiral Lord) Manuscript document signed by Admiral Nelson ("Nelson & Bronte", with his left hand) and his secretary John Scott, order directing the Captain of HMS Excellent, Frank Sotheron, to accompany a water transport to Port Conde in Sardinia, 2pp., framed to show the reverse only (with signatures) but with a copy of the recto and a hand-coloured engraving of the death of Nelson, overall 475 x 760mm., on board H.M.S. Victory, 18th June 1804.

⁂ The document, written in the hand of Nelson's secretary John Scott, instructs Captain Sotheron to proceed to Porto Conte on Sardinia and "on your arrival there you will cause the utmost expedition to be used in filling the said Empty Water Cask and in completing the Excellent's Water and Wood." He was also ordered to obtain "the necessary quantity of fresh Beef" and "purchase sixty head of live oxen for the Fleet, or more if they can be stowed, together with a sufficient quantity of Fodder..."

Scott was Nelson's trusted secretary and confidant, who was killed on board HMS Victory about an hour and a half before Nelson. With affirmation to Nelson's question "Is that poor Scott that is gone?", he added "Poor Scott" before his body was thrown overboard, as was the custom.