Letters of most of the Nelson captains can still be bought at very moderate prices, but if addressed to Nelson the value would be at once doubled.
The finest collection of letters by Fairfax and other soldiers of the Civil War, both Royalist and Parliamentarian, I know of, is in the possession of Mr. F. Sabin, by whose permission I reproduce the letter of Montrose to the King, which is priced at £60:—
Superscription, "for the King's Maiesty," and endorsement, "Lord of Montrose, 3d February."
please yr Maiesty
Haveing never receaved any of yr Mas Commands, since I had the honor to attend you, bot on letter from france only, and knoweing what strange newses yr Ma may daly heare, I heave directed thes that your Ma may know (notwithstanding all opposition and encouragements) I am hopefull, to be once againe in the termes to doe your service[**space - no period, P2] I will not trouble yr Ma with particulars bot leave them unto Mr Elliott, who will informe yr Ma att greatter lenth[**space - no period, P2] I am
Yr Mas Subject and Servant
Montrose
I have already alluded to the varying prices of Wellington's letters, which depend entirely on the time at which they were written. If dated June 17, 18, 19 or 20, 1815, they might be worth anything from £50 upwards; letters from the Peninsula on military topics bring from £2 to £5, but I only gave 30s. for the note and envelope franked and addressed to Lady Sidmouth, covering a lock of Napoleon's hair—the latter being included in the price! In my opinion there could not possibly be a more interesting souvenir of the victor of Waterloo. The letters of Sir Hudson Lowe are sold from £1 to £3, those of Marshal Blücher fetching about the same price.
Few of the letters of living warriors fetch high prices. The amusing and satirical letters of Frederick Burnaby are worth from 4s. to 10s., but I refrain from publishing those in my collection. Letters of Earl Roberts and Viscount Wolseley average from 3s. to 5s., but Lord Kitchener writes little and declines persistently to be "drawn." I once saw a letter of his priced at £2 12s. 6d., but that was when the Boer War was at its height.