Trafalgar Interest - Rare pair of 19th Century oil on canvas portraits, of James Keith (Master of HMS Neptune at the Battle of Trafalgar, 21st October 1805) and of his wife Lesley Keith (née Douglas), both depicted bust-length, he with white wing-collared shirt and Naval coat, she with lace bonnet, blue silk dress and mantle, 74cm x 61.5cm, (restored 1998), in gilt framesJames Keith is recorded as a 's Master (the 's Navigator and Senior Warrant Officer responsible for the sails and seaman) on other vessels as early as 1793. s prior to the Neptune include the Cameleon and the Saturn.Literature: MacKenzie, Colonel Robert Holden, 'The Trafalgar Roll, Containing the Names and Services of all Officers of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines who participated in the Glorious Victory of 21st October 1805, together with a History of the s engaged in the Battle', George Allen &pany, London, 1913, p. 58, where listed "Master . . . James Keith (23)" and p. 65 where (23) details "Mr. J. Keith was appointed Master, R. N., 1793. Master of the Neptune at Trafalgar 1805. Died in 1838." Recorded in the family of the current owner (a descendant) is the existence of a letter, a transcript of which still exists and is reproduced below:"H.M.S. Neptune. Off CadizNovember 1st, 1805My Dear Mother,On the 21st of last month, as you will hear by the newspaper, our fleet fought thebined force of France and Spain and though we were much inferior in numbers, we gained a decisive victory, after four hours hard fighting.Fifteen of their s struck. Our loss has been great, in as much as Lord Nelson, ourmander-in-Chief was killed. His loss will long be felt by England as an officer. We had two captains killed, three wounded and inferior officers many both killed and wounded, which I have no opportunity of knowing. Our loss in this was trifling; only nine killed and thirty-six wounded; which was very fortunate as we engaged themander-in-chief of the French and the third inmand of the Spanish, the last in a of 130 guns and the first 30 guns. However in about three and a half hours they struck to us, but not before all their masts were overboard. The carnage in both s was lamentable. My dear Mother a sea fight of itself is terrible, but a gale of wind on the shore which has continued now a whole week has added additional pangs to many a poor family, for many of the enemy’s s after being dismasted in battle by us became the sport of the element, and after tossing about as the wind listed for several days they finished their earthly course in a watery grave. Indeed our own situation was far from being pleasant. All our masts wounded, some seriously; with hundreds of prisoners on board, and us in a gale of wind on an enemy’s coast. I assure you it has given my constitution such a blow as I cannot expect to recover soon. And sorry am I that Scotland can never be a resting place for me except in summer, though I have the appearance