Nelson's annotated copy.- [Stephens (Alexander)] Public Characters of 1803-1804, Admiral Lord Nelson's copy with ownership inscription and notes, dated ink ownership inscription 'Nelson & Bronte' in Nelson's hand to front endpaper, 3pp. with ink annotations in Nelson's hand to margins, 5 engraved portrait plates, 4pp. publisher's catalogue at end, a few pencil notes in another hand, a few ff. with browning or the odd spot, contemporary half calf, rubbed, uncut, 8vo, for Richard Phillips, 1804.

⁂ Nelson's copy, containing the life of Emma, Lady Hamilton (pp.325-333) with his annotations, and possibly on board HMS Victory with him at the Battle of Trafalgar, 1805.

Nelson has made three annotations to the entry on Lady Hamilton in this copy. His main comment is made in defence of Emma against the author's mention of criticism to her marriage to Sir William Hamilton, by that gentleman's family. Underlining the word "criticised", Nelson has written at the bottom of the page, "quite the contrary she was given away by the Marquis of Abercorn & always owned as cousin by the present Duke of Hamilton" (p.327). He has also underlined the section referencing Emma's birth as having been in the forest of Bere in Hampshire, writing adjacent, "Lancashire witch". Possibly this was a personal joke (?), or possibly, a correction of geography, with Emma in reality being born in a small town in Cheshire then very close to the county border with Lancashire (p.325). Finally, he corrects the author's reference to Sir William Hamilton's residence in Naples as having been thirty years, with the addition of the word "six" in the margin (p.327).

The ownership inscription reads, "Nelson & Bronte February 27th 1804 off Barcelona in Spain". This places the volume in his possession while on the Victory as commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean Fleet, partaking in the siege of Toulon. From thence he was at sea almost continually until the Battle of Trafalgar in October the following year, and whilst he did return to England for a brief visit in August 1805, it is conceivable to think of this copy remaining on board. Certainly his personal library is known to have suffered in the battle, "His small book-case had a hole in the back of it, made by a cannon ball during the action by which the glass door was broken and some of the books scatterred on the floor..." (Universal Magazine, vol. V, 1806, pp.43-47").