[MANUSCRIPT]. HARDY, Thomas Masterman. Autograph Letter Signed from onboard HMS Victory, just three days after Nelson’s body had left the ship following his death at Trafalgar. Dated 25th December 1805. Nelson’s Captain Hardy signed twice “T.M.Hardy” and concerning a Marine, Private James Norgrove who had been killed at Trafalgar. Single page 4to with integral blank leaf and red wax seal and countersigned by Bedingfeld,[“Claim approved”] of the Navy Pay Office. H.M.S Victory, Long Reach, River Medway. The document is in two parts, each signed by Hardy. The upper section has Hardy’s statement “ James Norgrove served as Private Marine on board His Majesty’s Ship Victory under my command from 18th April 1803 to the 21st day of October 1805, that he was killed in action off Trafalgar on that day and that he is entitled to share prize money for all Captures made by the said ship during that time”. The lower section consists of a letter from Hardy to the Rev. Daniel Lysons, explaining that he is annexing “a general certificate for Prize Money” giving information how Norgrove’s prize money and back wages can be obtained by his next of kin, and kindly adding “I have recommended his poor Mother to the Patriotic Fund”. Together with a folder of comprehensive research done by a previous owner of the manuscript.This research has details of Hardy’s career, newspaper accounts of the crowds that visited the Victory on the river Medway, and the damage to the ship, Victory’s voyage from Spithead to Chatham 10th December 1805– 15th January 1806 and the removal of Nelson’s body from Victory. There is a full transcription of the letters, a photocopy of the muster roll of Victory mentioning Norgrove and the amount his mother would be entitled to. The origin of the letters and how they came to be written is discussed, and there are useful notes on the Patriotic Fund, the wages of Marines, the Marine complement of the Victory [in considerable detail] including those killed at Trafalgar. An interesting letter, well researched, written onboard the Victory by Nelson’s Captain who was with him at his death.