"RECOLLECTIONS OF THE LIFE OF THE REV. A. J. SCOTT, D.D. LOR...

Estimate

£300 - £500

"RECOLLECTIONS OF THE LIFE OF THE REV. A. J. SCOTT, D.D. LORD NELSON'S CHAPLAIN"

first edition, published Saunders and Otley, London, 1842; together with an original letter from A. J. Scott to Thomas Ryden Esq that discusses an instant mentioned in the book, pg 256/257, where Scott describes how he had gone to town to buy a horse, and instead spends his savings in a bookshop, 22.5cm x 18cm (2)

Provenance : The book was acquired from Mike Prowse, Reading bookseller, in 2009. The Letter was purchased from Kingsbridge Books, Devon, in 2012.

Note: The book appears to bear an ownership inscription of Horatia Johnson (nee Ward), the daughter of Nelson's daughter Horatia. Also, an interesting pencil note in the margin of the book on page 256 states "See letter belonging to Hester Sassoon dated 11.1.1819 to Thos Ryden Esq from A J Scott at Catterick in which he says "Went to Richmond on Tuesday last to buy a horse - went into an old bookshop - bought books & left the horse - Books do not eat anything."

The letter appears to have been in the ownership of Hester, wife of the poet Siegfried Sassoon. The book has the engraved bookplate of Henry Moore, the Earl of Drogheda. Alexander John Scott (1768-1840) was Nelson's translator, chaplain, amanuensis, and close friend. He was at Nelson's side at Trafalgar, supporting the Admiral and rubbing his chest as he lay dying. He accompanied Nelson's body back to England, sitting beside it during the lying-in-state. He was badly affected by the carnage of the battle and the loss of his friend and hero, soon after retiring to the life of a country curate in Catterick.