GATTY, Margaret & Alfred (eds).

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Recollections of the Life of the Rev. A. J. Scott, D.D., Lord Nelson's Chaplain. First edition of the only contemporary biography of Alexander John Scott, chaplain on the Victory and unofficial private secretary to Nelson; Scott attended to the vice admiral during his final hours at Trafalgar. This copy is from the library of Clive Richards (1937-2021), who owned "the finest collection of Nelson letters in private hands" according to The Telegraph.Scott (1768-1840) was ordained as a priest in 1792 and the following year appointed chaplain of the third-rate HMS Berwick under Captain Sir John Collins. The Berwick joined the Mediterranean fleet commanded by Lord Hood, during which time Scott likely first met Nelson. In May 1803 Scott took on an official role as chaplain of the Victory and an unofficial role as Nelson's private secretary and interpreter. "He was frequently sent, as though on leave, to Leghorn, Naples, Barcelona, or other places; the readiness with which he gained admission to fashionable society enabled him to bring back intelligence. He continued with Nelson on this footing for his whole time in the Mediterranean... On 21 October he attended Nelson during the admiral's final hours, receiving his last wishes. On the return of the Victory to England, he attended the coffin as it lay in state at Greenwich, and until it was finally laid in the crypt of St Paul's" (ODNB).

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.