The Battle of Leipzig, 1813. A George I silver kettle with presentation inscription, Benjamin Godfrey, London, 1718,of globular form with rattan covered swing handle and hinged cover, the upper part of the body flat chased with strapwork, foliage and shells, inscribed 'From Edward Solly to Charles Wood inmemoration of their Fellow/at the Memorable Battle of Leipzig/of the 16th, 18th & 19th Oct. 1813', height 23.4cm, gross weight 35.9oz.Edward SOLLY (1776-1844) was an English timber merchant and art collector living in Berlin during the Napoleonic wars. After the battle of Leipzig, he undertook a dangerous journey to deliver the first news of Napoleon's defeat to the English. On the 2nd of February 1819, Solly was voted a grant of £500 from Parliament for "bringing to England the intelligence of the Victory gained by the Allied armies at Leipzig." Two years later, Solly's the large art collection was acquired by the Prussian state. From over 3000 paintings, more than 1000 were chosen for the gallery of the future Art Museum now named The Gema¨ldegalerie, Berlin.Charles William VANE, 3th Marquess of Londonderry, wrote of Solly's bravery in deliverint the news of victory at the battle of Leipzig " I sent the account of this battle to England by my aide-de-camp and cousin, Mr. James, who most gratefully was everywhere in the hottest of the action... In order also to every measure to aplish the transmission of this vitally important intelligence as speedily as possible, I was induced to avail myself of the services of Mr.Solly, a Prussian gentleman, largely connected in England; who with indefatigable zeal, and great personal risk and inconvenience, undertook to carry a copy of mymunication direct to the English government through the midst of the French armies. He embarked in an open boat, and arrived in London with glorious intelligence in an incredibly short space of time".Londonderry goes on to mention Major Charles Wood (1790-1877):"I ought here to record the gallantry displayed, and the efficient assistance I received from my aide-de-camp, Captain Charles, now Major, Wood,." Narrative of the War in Germany and France in 1813 and 1814, Charles William Vane 3th Marquess of Londonderry, Colonel of the 10th Royal Hussar, (Philadelphia, 1831), p.130-31.Provenance: The Battle of Leipzig, fought from October 16 to 19, 1813 in Saxony (Germany), was the largest battle of the Napoleonic Wars. Edward Solly attended as an observer. Edward not only attended the battle, but then volunteered to bring the vital news of Napoleon's defeat back to London, travelling through enemy territory at great risk and arriving ahead of the King's Messengers.