A Voyage Up The Mediterranean in His Majesty’s Ship The Swiftsure. One of The Squadron Under The Command of Rear - Admiral Baron Nelson of The Nile, And Duke of Bronte in Sicily, With A Description of The Battle of The Nile On The First of August 1798 and a detail of events that occured subsequent to the battle in various parts of the Mediterranean.
London: T. Bensley, 1802.
First edition. 43 hand-colored plates. xxiii, 309 pp. 1 vols. 4to (285 x 230 mm). Modern three quarter red morocco and cloth, spine gilt. Very slight shelfwear. Quite clean, fresh, and unblemished internally. A handsome, near fine copy Abbey 196; Blackmer 1813; Hilmy II:335; Prideaux, pp.223 & 357; Cox II:448; JCB Maritime hand-list 1235; NMM 5:1657. Item #254443
A lovely, fully-colored copy of this important account of Nelson's victory at the Nile, and of travels in the Mediterranean. Willyams served as chaplain of the Swiftsure, a ship in Nelson's squadron, and he was present at the Battle of the Nile.
"Placed as he was in the midst of a battle as splendid and extraordinary as the page of history has ever recorded, an attendant of the chase which preceded it, and of many interesting occurrences and scenes which the shores of the Mediterranean exhibited for nearly two years after its termination, he daily minuted with his pen and pencil the observations and images which obtruded themselves upon him. The authenticity of such memorials, and the views of places and people, which the present as well as the past has rendered subjects of such warm curiosity and interest, may, as his friends flatter him, give a value to his simple diary, and the sketches, even if unskilful, of a self-taught artist" (preface).
The ODNB calls this book "the first, the most particular, and the most authentic account of the battle." Willyams was a talented topographer and artist, and this is a handsomely produced book, showing the skill of the printer, Bensley. The plates are after drawings done by Willyams and include a plan of the battle, as well as views in Sicily, Syracuse, Egypt, Alexandria, Syria, Venice, Gibraltar, and other locations around the Mediterranean. The text includes well-written descriptions of all these places and more.
Price: $4,000.00 Free International Delivery
