to prison if he dared to do it, he desisted. I fortunately attached myself to an honest Lawyer; and don't let me forget, the President of Nevis offered in Court to become my bail for £10,000, if I chose to suffer the arrest. He told them I had done only my duty; and although he suffered more in proportion than any of them, he could not blame me. At last, after a Trial of two days, we carried our cause, and the vessels were condemned. I was a close prisoner on board for eight weeks, for had I been taken, I most assuredly should have been cast for the whole sum. I had nothing left but to send a Memorial to the King, and he was good enough to order me to be defended at his expense, and sent orders to Mr. Shirley to afford me every assistance in the execution of my duty, and referring him to my letters, &c., as there was in them, what concerned him not to have suffered.

The Treasury, by the last Packet, has transmitted thanks to Sir Richard Hughes, and the Officers under him, for their activity and zeal in protecting the Commerce of Great Britain. Had they known what I have told you, (and if my friends think I may, without impropriety, tell the story myself, I shall do it when I get Home,) I don't think they would have bestowed thanks in that quarter and have neglected me. I feel much hurt that after the loss of health and risk of fortune, another should be thanked for what I did against his orders. I either deserved to be sent out of the Service, or at least have had some little notice taken of me. They have thought it worthy of notice, and have neglected me; if this is the reward for a faithful discharge of my duty, I shall be careful and never stand forward again; but I have done my duty, and have nothing to accuse myself of.

I wish I could tell you any [thing] pleasant about your Dominica estate I would not have you lay [illegible] of getting much from it; however, when I go inquiries what it is worth, and what taxes are due for it. The runaway slaves have been very troublesome at that Island. Governor Stewart's estate is entirely ruined and all the white people killed. He is at Grenada for his health, having had a para

• Mr. Herbert, the uncle of Mrs. Nisbet.

lytic stroke which deprived one side of him of life: it is thought he will not recover it. Many thanks for the inquiries of those who remember me. Pray present my best compliments, and pray do as you intend, saying as many handsome things as you please of me to the Kirkes, not upon Miss's account, for most probably the next time you see me will be as a Benedict. I think I have found a woman who will make me happy; I will tell you more of the matter shortly, for my paper is full. Remember me to Kingsmill; he is much [more] in use than myself as to writing. To Lord Ducie9 say compliments; why has he never sent the younker? I am sorry he has left the Service. Adieu, my dear Friend, and believe that I am, with the most unfeigned regard and esteem,

Yours faithfully,

HORATIO NELSON.

Captain Sandys quitted the Latona on the 8th of March.

TO WILLIAM SUCKLING, ESQ.

My dear Uncle,

[From" the Athenæum."]

Boreas, Carlisle Bay, March 9th, 1786.

Your kind letter of January 3rd I received yesterday on my arrival here from Nevis. When I made application to you in November, it was, I assure you, not so much considering you in the light of a near relation as of a sincere friend, who would do every [thing] which was proper for the happiness of one who sincerely regarded and esteemed him, and whose friendship was pure, without any interested views in it; and had it not been for one sentence in your letter, viz. Your application has in a great degree deprived me of my free agency,' I should have been supremely happy; but my feelings are too quick, and I feel sharply what perhaps others would not, so

9 The Honourable Francis Reynolds, Lord Ducie, who was made a Post Captain in April 1762, and distinguished himself on many occasions, particularly in Lord Rodney's action. He succeeded as 4th Lord Ducie, in September 1785, and soon after retired from the Service. Lord Ducie died in August 1808.

they gained their ends. That sentence would make me suppose that you thought I conceived I had a right to ask pecuniary assistance: if you did think so, be assured you did me great injustice; for I was convinced, that whatever you might be kind enough to do for me, must spring from your own generous heart, and not from any shadow of right I could be fool enough to suppose I derived from our relationship.

Relations are not always the people we are to look up to for doing friendly offices. O my dear uncle! you can't tell what I feel-indeed, I can hardly write, or know what I am writing: you would pity me did you know what I suffer by that sentence. -for although it does not make your act less generous, yet it embitters my happiness. You must know me, and consequently that I am guided by the strictest rules of honour and integrity; and that had I not been more ambitious of fame than money, I should not most probably [have] been under the necessity of making the present application to you. No dangers or difficulties shall ever deter me from doing my utmost to provide handsomely for my dearest Fanny, for with the purest and most tender affection do I love her. virtues and accomplishments are not more conspicuous than her goodness of heart and gentleness of disposition; and you will esteem her for herself when you know her.

Her

Your readiness in giving, my dear Friend, will not make me more anxious to receive; for can I live without your putting yourself to the inconvenience of advancing me money, I certainly shall do it, for my disposition is not that of endeavouring to grasp all it can. The greatest felicity I can enjoy is to make her happy; for myself I can care but little when she is considered; and I could lay down my life with pleasure at this moment for her future happiness. After what I have written, you will believe my love is founded upon that strong basis which must have the appearance of enjoying happiness with her. I will endeavour, as much as my indisposed mind will let me, to answer all your questions about her son and herself.

When Mrs. Nisbet married, Mr. Herbert promised two thousand pounds with her; but as her husband settled in the Island, where he died a few months after, it never has been paid. Mr. H. told me he had given, and should pay to the child

VOL. I.

M

one thousand pounds when he grew up; and that he should bring him up at his expense, and put him in a way of providing for himself. Mr. Nisbet (the gentleman whose wife went astray) was a brother. His estate, I understand from Mr. Herbert, owes for money lent, and attending it as Doctor, about 30001. Currency; but Dr. Nisbet dying insane, without a Will, or any Papers which were regular, has made this business rather troublesome, as Mr. Nisbet wishes to pay as little as he can help. Mr. Stanley, the Attorney General, whose property is next Mr. Herbert's and who is his particular friend, has undertaken to settle it for her.

She will not get much; but it must, I conceive, make her little fellow independent. Her Uncle, although he is a man who must have his own way in everything, yet I believe has a good and generous heart, and loves her and her son very sincerely; and I have every reason to suppose is as much attached to me as to any person who could pay their addresses to his dear Fanny, as he always calls her. Although his income is immense, yet his expenses must be great, as his house is open to all strangers, and he entertains them most hospitably. I can't give you an idea of his wealth, for I don't believe he knows it himself. Many estates in that Island are mortgaged to him. The stock of Negroes upon his estate and cattle are valued at 60,000l. sterling: and he sends to England (average for seven years) 500 casks of sugar. His daughter's fortune must be very large and as he says, and told me at first, that he looked upon his neice as his child, I can have no reason to suppose that he will not provide handsomely for her. I had rather wish, that whatever he may do at her marriage, may flow spontaneously from himself.

I have not an idea of being married till nearly the time of our sailing for England, which I did not think was to be till 1787; but report says, (which I don't believe, by-the-bye, but you can ask Mr. Stephens,1) we are to go Home this summer; but I thought it right to know every sentiment of my friends upon a business of this moment. I have tried your patience I am sure, therefore will have done. Pray send to Marsh and Creed, my Agents, and ask if they have heard anything

The Secretary to the Admiralty.

of the Appeal. I wrote to them what I would have done, and I have not had a line from them to know, whether they have ever received the letter. I can't write to my Father, that perhaps you will have the goodness to say-I am well.

Pray remember me most kindly to all your family, and to any gentlemen of the village who do me the favour of asking after me, and believe that I am with the greatest affection, Your obliged Nephew,

HORATIO NELSON.

Some time ago (two months), a Whaler called the Yorick, arrived here from the Southern Fishery. He had no Register, but had a Clearance from London, where he said he was bound, and no other Papers whatsoever. Pray inquire if such a Ship ever arrived, as I believe she is run away with, and probably the Master got rid of by unfair means. If I had met I certainly should have put a Lieutenant into her, and sent her to London to have the business cleared up, as the man said his owner lived there.

TO MRS. NISBET.

[From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. i. p. 81.]

My dear Fanny,

Boreas, Carlisle Bay, March 25th, 1786.

Most probably, when the Packet arrives, the Admiral's Schooner will be so soon hurried away, that I shall not have a moment's time to write..... The inhabitants here are heartily tired of my company. I am ready to give them my room; and they may assure themselves, I will not trouble them one moment longer than I can help: for although my person is with them, my heart, thoughts, and affections are far off. Upwards of a month from Nevis. When I sailed, I hoped by this time to have been there again: but how uncertain are human expectations, and how vain the idea of fixing periods for happiness. I am anxious, yet sometimes fear to receive Mr. Herbert's answer to my letter: yet why I should fear, I

2 Kentish Town.