A rare notebook containing 46 naval commands issued by Admiral Horatio Nelson in 1799, including an order for the execution of a mutinous sailor, has emerged and offers a starkly authoritative view of the celebrated commander.
The document, compiled by Captain Henry D'Esterre Darby of HMS Bellerophon, contains approximately 40 commands believed to have never been publicly seen before. These orders provide an unfiltered and urgent perspective on Nelson's wartime leadership, differing from his more formal correspondence.
Court Martial and Execution
Central to the notebook is the court-martial of William White, a boatswain's mate on HMS Bellerophon, who was sentenced to death for mutinous behavior. The records detail that White confined in irons, seized an officer by the collar, threatened him, and used other insubordinate language. He was found guilty under the 22nd Article of War for striking or offering violence to a superior officer.
Nelson's memorandum confirming the sentence is stark: "Whereas Wm White late Boatswain's Mate of H.M. Ship Bellerophon hath been condemned by the sentence of a Court Martial to suffer Death..." The order dictated that the execution by hanging be carried out the following morning.
Glimpse into Command
Guy Nathan, founder of Arch Books, which is offering the notebook for sale, described the document as offering a "vivid image of Nelson as a war-time commander" and likened it to "reading his emails."
"It's such an amazing document. Obviously it's a pretty extraordinary 1799 command document for the Bellerophon," Nathan said. "Nelson was on his flagship the HMS Foudroyant and a runner would take his orders down in notebooks like this and deliver them to the captains of other ships in the fleet."
Beyond the execution order, the notebook details the daily mechanics of naval command. It includes intelligence gathering on the Brest Fleet, casualty reports from fighting in Italy, orders concerning prisoners, restrictions on communication, victualling, and supervision of vessels and men.
Historical Context
The commands were issued during a period of upheaval, following the French Revolution, when concerns about revolution and insurgency were high. This was also a personal period for Nelson, marked by his affair with Emma, Lady Hamilton.
An order for the fleet to receive half a pint of wine each to toast King George III on the anniversary of the Battle of the Nile is also included, showcasing Nelson's attention to morale and leadership.
The manuscript, described as being of "exceptional rarity and importance," has been conserved to maintain its character as a working shipboard document. It is being sold for £18,000 and is expected to enter a trust collection.