LORD NELSON AND EMMA HAMILTON, AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED, GEORGE MATCHAM, 11 JANUARY 1803

EXPRESSING THEIR SHARED ANGER AND CONTEMPT FOR THE RECENT BEHAVIOUR OF NELSON'S WIFE, Nelson also discussing the Matchams' plans for a visit to Europe ("...The environs of both Dresden & Vienna are beautiful I believe Dresden much the cheapest place..."), Emma Hamilton writing on domestic affairs, looking forward to a visit from the Matchams and describing a recent ball ("...We have had a delightfull Ball Charlotte out did herself Like an angel she was that night the Little Boltons were Charmed..."), 2 pages (one page by Nelson, one page by Emma Hamilton), 4to, Merton, 11 January 1803, integral autograph address leaf, seal tear "...What impudent Pride may do is not worth consideration except return the Card from whence it came..."

George Matcham (Nelson's brother-in-law), thence by descent; London, Sotheby’s, Trafalgar: Nelson and the Napoleonic Wars, 5 October 2005, lot 39

Portions of this letter are printed in Matcham M Eyre, The Nelsons of Burnham Thorpe (1911) pp.205-6.

This letter was written during the Peace of Amiens, when the Matchams - like so many others - wanted to take advantage of peace to travel on the Continent. On 9 January George Matcham had written to Nelson: "Lady Nelson we understand has taken a house at Clifton. She called upon us. Mrs. Matcham was at home but she did not come in nor make the least inquiry about us, but left a card and rolled off as she came in Lord Hood's carriage and four. We should have told her, as we have always declared, it is our maxim if possible to be at peace with all the world." (Naish, Nelson's Letters to his Wife and Other Documents, p.602). The vicious attack on Fanny rather undercuts the image of a happy and united family that Emma fostered with typical energy in this letter, where she congratulates Matcham on his ever-expanding family and gushes with news of nephews and nieces.