http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h5VSsbGo0M

“THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF THE ADMIRALTY,
WHITEHALL.

27th January 1806.

To: REAR-ADMIRAL SIR PERCY TREVELYAN, K.B.
NATIONAL MARITIME ARCHIVE,
GREENWICH.

Sir,

The despatch accompanying this communication is in the hand of Captain
Sir Thomas Andrews, K.B., late of His Britannic Majesty's Ship
“Agamemnon”.

You will see that the document is dated 20th October 1805, one day
before the death of Admiral Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Their Lordships have lately been informed that Sir Thomas sustained
mortal injuries during an heroic engagement on 24th October 1805 in
the western Mediterranean Sea. During this engagement, “Agamemnon” was
lost.

Lieutenant Abel Kerry, First Officer aboard “Agamemnon”, survived the
action and was conveyed to Gibraltar. It was Lieutenant Kerry who
delivered Sir Thomas’ despatch into the hands of the Vice-Admiral
Commanding in the Mediterranean.

Shortly after arriving in Gibraltar, Kerry became afflicted with Brain
Fever, undoubtedly occasioned by his experiences during the last hours
of “Agamemnon”. He is no longer in sound mind and will be unable to
return to England.

Having regard to the emotion felt throughout the Land on the death of
the Admiral, and to “Agamemnon” having been Admiral Nelson’s first
command, I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners to direct and
require you to hold the Agamemnon Despatch (as it shall be known) in a
place of safety for not less than 200 (two hundred) years. It is not
to be Gazetted, and its existence is not to be catalogued in the
National Maritime Archive.

You are further directed and required to inform their Lordships
through me that this Order has been complied with.

Your obed’t servant,


E. SEAGRAVE
Secy. to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h5VSsbGo0M


“The Night Before Trafalgar” is from the “Edge Of The Dark” sessionsan unreleased collection of over fifty experimental pieces recorded
between 1978 and 1981.