Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson's presentation sword

The Corporation of London presented this sword to Admiral Horatio Nelson with the Freedom of the City in 1800. The sword was produced to commemorate Nelson's victory over the French at the Battle of the Nile in 1798. Nelson had previously presented the Lord Mayor of London, John Anderson, with the sword surrendered by the French Admiral Blanquet. An inscription engraved under the sword's shell states that a Council meeting in the Guildhall on the 16th October 1798 resolved to purchase a sword for 200 guineas as a 'Testimony of the high esteem they entertain of his Public Services and of the eminent advantages he has rendered his country'. The 'Rix' mentioned in the inscription is the Town Clerk William Rix, who was responsible for taking minutes of City meetings.

The City of London's cash accounts record that the retailer Robert Makepeace was paid £210 for the sword in 1799. It was manufactured by James Morisset, a Huguenot goldsmith based in Soho. Morisset was one of London's most sought-after makers of gold dress swords. This type of sword was purely decorative, a ceremonial status symbol for a gentleman. The Napoleonic Wars generated considerable demand for presentation swords given by City of London merchants to military officers in recognition of their patriotic service. Skilled craftsmen like Morisset thrived on such commissions, which were arranged by middle men like Makepeace.

The sword's gold hilt is decorated with a series of decorative plaques in translucent blue enamel. On the grip are the coat of arms of the City of London and Lord Nelson. The guard has 'Nile and '1798' written in diamond studs between depictions of crocodiles representing the Nile. On either side of the pommel are illustrations of Britannia and a lion trampling the French flag. On the shell is a scene with a bust of Nelson being crowned by Britannia in the presence of Hercules and Minerva, Roman deities associated with war. The sword was made for a left-hand grip, as Nelson had lost his right arm after a raid on Santa Cruz, Tenerife, in 1797.