Nov 29, 2012 - Sale 2296

Sale 2296 - Lot 97

Price Realized: $ 6,240
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 3,000 - $ 4,000
"AS MY PROSPECTS BRIGHTEN SO SHALL MY LETTERS" (NELSON, HORATIO.) HAMILTON, EMMA Autograph Letter Signed, "Emma Hamilton," to Colonel Fullerton, complaining of her lack of rest from caring for her daughter's illness and having just completed her narrative [chronicling the diplomatic services of herself and her late lover, Horatio Nelson]. 3 1/4 pages, 4to, written on a single folded sheet; folds, seal tears with some loss to text on third page repaired with paper, mounting remnants on terminal page along center vertical fold affecting some text. Np, 30 December 1812
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"I have been so much occupied by writing my narrative of Services that I have had not any time to write or scarcely to sleep and my Dear Horatia having the Hooping Cough I have not had rest for many weeks--my narrative is gone to the printer I only Hope He will take my Case in to his Consideration[.] A very little bond [would] make me comfortable and to finish Horatia's education[.] according to my own mind she is delightful & amiable & very clever and I spare not any pains or expense for her[.] . . . I find a pleasure in your recollection of me that I Cannot describe & shall find Double Satisfaction when I can again tell you the story in person of my poor unfortunate friend the Q[ueen] of Naples . . . . I have my drawing room of a morning and many per[sons] come in. I wish you was one. . . ." At the top of the address panel, she adds an apologetic postscript: "Pray excuse this scrawl written in a hurry and not worth the postage but as my prospects brighten so shall my letters be more entertaining."
Before his death, Nelson had left instructions providing for Emma and Horatia, a request that was ignored by the British Government. The "narrative of Services" she mentions was her attempt to obtain a £20,000 grant to compensate for her diplomatic services with the Neapolitan royal family (she was a close friend of Queen of Naples, Maria Carolina). The narrative was never published, but the original manuscript is now housed at the Houghton Library at Harvard. Emma's lavish spending soon depleted the small pension left to her by her late husband, Sir William, and within six months of the present letter Emma and her daughter would land in debtor's prison. In 1814 Emma fled to France to escape her creditors where she soon turned to drink and died the following year in poverty.