Nelson, Horatio Lord

informing him that he has signed papers allowing Mr Fellows to take "your report as to the correctness of Lord Hoods order and I have given a testimony of Mr Fellows' conduct, which I hope may be as useful as I am sure it is true", also thanking Creed for complimenting his conduct in the affair, written with his left hand, 1 page, 4to, Medusa at Sea, 26 August 1801, adhesive residue on the verso

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Richard Creed was a partner in Marsh & Creed, bankers and navy agents. Although the firm had care of Nelson's finances, this letter relates to the money troubles of Thomas Fellowes, who had been Nelson's purser on the Agamemnon in the early 1790s, and had had difficulty with the navy board over his accounts from HMS Superb when the ship was in the Mediterranean. Nelson was wholeheartedly supportive of Fellowes in this dispute. On 26 November 1801 he wrote to St Vincent asking him to give Fellowes a Clerkship at Chatham: "The inquiries I have made of his Agents, and my own opportunity of observation, while he was under my command, leave not a shadow of doubt upon my mind but that the pecuniary embarrassments which are the source of this distress, are not the result of any extravagance or misconduct in the discharge of his duty; and indeed, speaking from my own knowledge, I can safely say that Mr. Fellowes is a man of strictly honest principles" (The Dispatches and Letters, IV, p.531). This letter is apparently unpublished.