NIGHTINGALE FLORENCE: (1820-1910) Lot n° 564

NIGHTINGALE FLORENCE: (1820-1910) English Pioneer of modern Nursing. A.L.S., Florence Nightingale, two pages, 4to, Lea House, Matlock, Derbyshire, 21st October 1856, to 'My dear Miss Erskine'. Nightingale writes in ink and acknowledges receipt of her correspondent's two letters, adding that she had 'great pain of feeling how little I could do to satisfy your desire…..of helping a man to duty, of whose usefulness we are both so much convinced', and further remarking 'I mentioned what we both know of him (I principally, of course, upon your authority which is so good) in the quarters where I thought it might be useful. I was told that he should be remembered when there was anything to give, but that (the usual answer) Yarmouth was to be reduced & the Coast Guard stations were all promised'. In concluding Nightingale refers to having met some mutual acquaintances, 'I saw dear Mrs. Mackenzie & her husband in Edinburgh. She looked better than he did. Both were as cordial, good & charming as ever'. With blank integral leaf. Some very light creasing and minor age wear, otherwise VG £600-800 Nightingale's charming letter is written just months after the Crimean War ended in February 1856. The nurse achieved worldwide attention for her pioneering modern nursing in treating the wounded during the military conflict between the Russian Empire and the alliance of the Ottoman Empire, Great Britain, France and Sardinia. The un-named individual whom Nightingale seeks to help in the present letter would appear to have been a Naval officer who most likely served in the Crimean War.