Nelson letter complains about cuts

A LETTER penned by Admiral Lord Nelson, right, has shown that even the heroic British naval commander was not immune to the effects of government cuts.

By The Newsroom

Published 21st Oct 2011, 10:04 BST

Writing two centuries ago, Nelson complained about a lack of government funds for couriers to take news of his successful blockade in Naples.

He wrote: “The Government would not pay £10 for me for any news, however interesting.

“I am anxious to hear of any movements of the armies. They are most interesting but I could not pay sixpence for the news of the greatest victory from the public purse.”

The rare letter, dated August 2, 1799, was discovered at a house in Lichfield, Staffordshire, and is addressed to the Honourable William Frederick Wyndham, British minister of Florence in the late 18th century.

The letter belongs to Hansons Auctioneers client Mark Berry and has been preserved by the family for 200 years. It will be sold by Hansons at the Mackworth Hotel, Derby, on October 27 with an estimate of £8,000 to £12,000.