Add MS 34966-34968

NELSON PAPERS. Vol. LXV.-LXVII. Private Diary of Lord Nelson when on board the Amphion and Victory in command of the Mediterranean Fleet, 24 July, 1803-18 Aug. 1805. Holograph. This is probably the "Diary" or "Private Journal" from which extracts are given by Clarke and McArthur, though the extracts are not verbatim (cf. extracts for 25-31 Oct. 1803 in Vol. II. p. 499, ed. 1840). Sir N. H. Nicolas, who quotes the extracts made by Clarke and McArthur, states that "this private Journal has not been found" (Nelson Dispatches, vol. v. p. 273, ed. 1845). The Diary, which begins 24 July, 1803, and practically ends with the anchoring of the Victory at Spithead, 18 Aug. 1805, consists of thirteen small memorandum-books numbered 2-13, with one, containing a few notes made apparently in October, 1805, unnumbered. No. 1, which contains the diary from 18 May, 1803, when Nelson took command of the Fleet at Spithead, to 23 July, 1803, is missing (but see below, Add. 35,191); and that another book is missing at the end, containing the diary for the remaining portion of Nelson's life, is apparent from the fact that extracts from the Private Diary" of a later date than 18 August, 1805, are given in the above-mentioned and other printed works. Three volumes.Paper; ff. 87, 76, 71. Small Octavo.