For once, a good excuse for bad handwriting: One of Admiral Nelson's first letters written left-handed after he lost his right arm in battle is unearthed

• Royal Navy officer penned the rare letter in 1798 while he recovered in Bath
• Was addressed to Thomas Lloyd Esquire, a descendant of the Lloyds family
• Experts say it offers a fascinating insight into his state of mind at the time
  
• Is expected to fetch £4,000 when it is sold at auction later this month
  

By Wills Robinson

Published: 12:58 EST, 16 February 2014 | Updated: 15:03 EST, 16 February 2014

He lost his writing hand while leading the Royal Navy to an embarrassing defeat on the island of Tenerfie in 1797.

The injury would become Admiral Horatio Nelson's constant reminder of failure, but it did not stop him planning his future missions.

For a rare letter, one of the first he wrote with his left hand in the after the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, has been unearthed and describes how he was ready to go back to sea.

The scrawling script, written in 1798 to Thomas Lloyd Esquire, is now being put up for auction, and is expected to be sold for around £4,000

Officer: Admiral Nelson wrote the letter after he lost his right arm in the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1797

Scrawls: Experts say the letter gives a fascinating insight into Nelson's state of mind at the time, showing he was still intent on planning his next mission

Experts say the two-page note offers a fascinating insight into Nelson's state of mind and how he continued to conjure up strategies in the build up to the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

In it, he valiantly lays out his hopes that he will soon be 'ready for sea' again and that the nation will 'subscribe liberally' to rise up against the 'Vile Dogs of opposition.'

He penned the note while recovering from his injury in Bath. It shows the married admiral's sense of humour in the face of adversity by joking about not being tempted by the 'handsomest ladies' in the city.

He adds: 'As I am possessed of everything which is valuable in my wife I have no occasion to think beyond a pretty face.'

The historical letter is to be sold as part of Halls' Auctioneers sale of fine furniture, European ceramics and works of art in Shropshire on February 26.

Yesterday Aaron Dean, Halls' books specialist, said: 'The letter gives a fascinating glimpse of Admiral Lord Nelson's state of mind between the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and his next command in the build up to the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, where he was shot and killed while leading the Royal Navy to his most famous victory.

'This is a great part of British history. The letter was written in Nelson's left hand while he was recuperating in Bath from losing his arm.

'An inflammatory ligature impeded his recovery. However, this eventually came out naturally and the letter reveals he is pushing for his next command with the Royal Navy.

'His persistence paid off and he was given command of the 74-gun HMS Vanguard. HMS Boadicea, referred to in the letter, was a Royal Navy frigate serving in the channel and East Indies.'

Treatment: He wrote the letter while he was recovering from the serious injury in Bath

The letter, addressed to Thomas Lloyd Esq, No: 15 Mary's Buildings, St Martins Lane, London, is part of a consignment from descendants of the Lloyd family of Dolobran, Pontrobert, near Welshpool.

They were prominent Quakers, iron merchants and , later, founder partners of Taylors and Lloyds bank, now Lloyds TSB.

The letter was discovered by one of Thomas Lloyd's descendants in 1911 and has been kept in the family ever since.

It reads: 'Mr dear Lloyd, There is nothing you can desire me to do that I shall not have the greatest pleasure in complying with for I am sure you can never.....although that is not most strictly honourable, I was much flattered by the marquis's king notice of me, and I beg you will make my respects acceptable to him.

'Tell him that.....his place in Mrs Palmer's Bos but his Lordship did not tell me all its charms that generally some of the handsomest Ladys at Bath are partakers in the Bos, and was I a bachelor I would not answer for being tempted, but as I am possessed of everything which is valuable in my wife I have no occasion to think beyond a pretty face.

Light-hearted: The letter shows the married admiral's sense of humour in the face of adversity by joking about not being tempted by the 'handsomest ladies' in the city

'I am sorry the King is so poor had he been worth what those Vile Dogs of opposition think what a vast sum would have been given to the nation but I now hope all the nation will subscribe liberally.

'You will not believe that I do not urge others to give and to with hold myself but my mode of observing will be novel in its manner and by doing it mean to...myself of many comforts to serve my country and I suspect great consolation every time I cut a slice of salt beef instead of mutton.

'The vanguard will be at Sheerness next Saturday and if this wind holds she will be at Portsmouth before Thompson quits the channel.

'I only pray that the French may not be ready to leave Brest. I have been in a fever ever since the return with the accounts of their being ready for sea.

'Lady Nelson and my father thanks you for your kind remembrance of them, and believe me my dear Lloyd your most affectionate, Horatio Nelson.'

It is one of the star exhibits at the sale on behalf of the Lloyd family, which also includes letters written by Robert Southey, poet laureate from 1813-1843 and social reformer Elizabeth Fry.