BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR INTEREST: Three autographed letters from Thomas Reynolds

HMS AJax at the time of these letters had been sent with the ships Malta and Terrible to reinforce Sir Robert Calder’s squadron off Ferrol. The first letter bears a postscript: "This letter has been wrote a fortnight to be ready for the next ship. Malta & Terrible have joined our squadron.” The second letter is written in the runup to Calder’s action at Cape Finisterre:

“I really wish the enemy would do something that our squadron might be detached to some other station I think quite sufficient. Should they make any attempt at running (for I think they would not fight us being reinforced ? & now by 2, 3 deckers & a 74). I am a ? it would be a chase to the Indies either East or West. I should rather it were the former nut I trust should such an event take place they will be brought to action too early for them to do as much mischief like the Rochefort ships... Sir Robt Calder observes his orders are so strict respecting the blockade of this place that he could not follow them”

Ajax joined Calder’s Squadron which on July 22nd engaged and defeated a French Squadron under Villeneuve. However, Calder did not press his home advantage, allowing Villeneuve to escape. The Ajax put in for repairs at Plymouth and on September 18th sailed with Nelson for Cadiz. In the third letter, written 12th September 1805, Reynolds writes: “We are going foreign with Ad. Lord Nelson”.

Provenance: Purchased from Stephen Rench, bookseller, 23rd April 2016.

Note: Thomas Reynolds, age unknown, an assistant surgeon, joined HMS Ajax on 21st July 1804. He was on board on 21st October 1805 during the Battle of Trafalgar, and was awarded prize money of £10. 14s. 2d. He was one of 250 crewmen killed on 14th February 1807 when HMS Ajax caught fire off Tenedos, under the command of Henry Blackwood.