London, October 28 (ANI): A letter by Admiral Lord Nelson dated August 2, 1799 has sold for 20,200 pounds at an auction at Mackworth Hotel in Derby.
Its worth was estimated between 8,000 to 12,000 pounds by Hanson Auctioneers.
The new owner of the letter wished to remain anonymous but Charles Hanson, of the auctioneers described him as a 'big Nelson enthusiast'.
"I'm delighted to celebrate Nelson in this way - it's gone beyond what we expected it to make" Mr Hanson told the BBC.
Nelson is famous for his naval victories over the French during the Napoleonic Wars. In the letter he complains about lack of funds to send news of a major successful blockade in Naples.
"The Government would not pay 10 pounds for me for any news, however interesting" says he in the letter dated two years after he lost his arm in Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
He further writes, "I am anxious to hear of any movements of the armies. They are most interesting but I could not pay sixpence for the news of the greatest victory from the public purse... I am forced to confess that our Government keep us seamen from putting our hand in the public chest."
The letter was addressed to Honourable William Frederick Wyndham, British minister for Florence at the time. It was found at a house in Lichfield, Staffordshire and its previous owner was Mark Berry, Wyndham's distant relative.
He said, "The letter with Nelson's original ink script is wonderful to handle since it is in the hand of my famous naval hero."
"In these hard times we must take heart in a man who was weary and frustrated but rose again in a magnificent way." (ANI)
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