I have not a human creature to speak to you will feel a little for me, I think. I did not use to be over-fond of sitting alone. The moment old Boreas is habitable in my cabin, I shall fly to it, to avoid mosquitoes and melancholies. Hundreds of the former are now devouring me through all my clothes. You will, however, find I am better; though when you see me, I shall be like an Egyptian mummy, for the heat is intolerable. But I walk a mile out at night without fatigue, and all day I am housed. A quart of goats' milk is also taken every day, and I enjoy English sleep, always barring mosquitoes, which all Frank's care with my net cannot keep out at present.

What nonsense I am sending you: but I flatter myself the most trivial article concerning me, you feel interested in. I judge from myself; and I would rather have what passes in your mind, than all the news you could tell me which did not concern you. Mr. Horsford, our neighbour, came to visit me, making many apologies for his neglect, and pressing me much to come to his house, which has Boreas in view. Also the Comptroller of the Customs, with fine speeches: he may go back whistling, if he pleases. I cannot add anything further, for I do not know if you would read more than a sheet full.

August 23rd. At any rate, I will show some mercy. Berbice arrived yesterday. All at home are well. I am still apt to suppose this winter will carry me to England. Pringle has been at Portsmouth, so says Lord Hood: he longs to see you. May every blessing attend my far better half, and may I soon be with you, is the sincere wish of

Your most affectionate

HORATIO NElson.

9 Frank Lepeé, his servant.

1 Captain Thomas Pringle, ante.

Sir,

TO PHILIP STEPHENS, ESQ., ADMIRALTY.

[Duplicate, in the Admiralty.]

Boreas, English Harbour, Antigua, 27th August, 1786.

The Board of Treasury having issued an Order in the year 1763, and signed by Mr. Grenville, for the admission of Spaniards bringing bullion to our Colonies, which order was sent to the different Custom-Houses in our Colonies, the money brought out of the Spanish territories not being allowed to be carried off by the Spanish Government, was, of course, clandestinely taken out of that Country, to the detri ment of Spain, and the advantage of Great Britain. In return, the Spaniards received British manufactured checks and linens, which were carried into their own Country, in the same clandestine manner.

In a few years, our Custom-Houses admitted cattle, mules, and stock, to be brought by the Spaniards to our Islands, and they say it has the sanction of the Board of Customs, as an encouragement for the Spaniards to visit our Islands, and to take off our dry goods. At Jamaica, from my own knowledge, having been upon that station, the reasoning will hold good. To that Island very large quantities of dry goods used to be sent for the purpose of the Spanish trade; but the contrary is the fact in these Islands. No dry goods calculated to suit the Spaniards are sent here, nor is there a merchant which I have heard of, who deals in anything but American produce-rum, beef, pork, butter, &c., for the use of the small community living about them.

When I acquainted the Collector of Basseterre that I had seized a Spaniard bringing cattle and mules, he sent off the Treasury order of 1763, in which, besides bullion, was inserted in writing, live stock, &c.' In the Collector's letter he mentioned that he had sent off the Clerk of the Customhouse, as he had been twenty-one years in the Office, and could better answer any questions I might wish to ask than he could. When I observed the insertion of the writing, he declared it had been so ever since he had been in the Office, and that the Board of Customs approved of their admission.

This is the cloak which has hitherto been made use of for adınitting every article in Spanish vessels. Money is always taken from these Islands instead of British goods, for we have none to sell, which money is carried to St. Eustatia, where they lay it out. Thus, instead of bringing bullion, they take it from us; and enrich the Dutch at our expense.

I must say a few words relative to the Island of Grenada. I understand that it is asserted the Spaniards take from that Island every year, large quantities of British manufactured dry goods. I think I may venture to say, that a great part of the dry goods given to the Spanish vessels, who visit Gre nada, are of French manufacture.

Since the Peace, the Island of Trinidada has been declared a free Port. All imports are duty free; but on exports a duty of 15 per cent. is paid.

As the American Vessels are now pretty tired of venturing too much amongst our Islands, their Vessels, after delivering their cargoes in the French Islands, or at the Dutch Settlements of Surinam, Demerara, &c., upon the Main, repair to the Island of Trinidada, where they obtain from the Governor a qualification to make their vessels Spanish for a given time. They, in general, take a Spanish Creole, or two, to give a colour to the fraud; and thus prepared, they, under Spanish Colours visit our Islands, and the Custom-Houses, under the cloak of the Order of [the] Treasury in 1763, and the sanction which they pretend to have from the Board of Customs, admit these Americans; and I have but little doubt, although their decks are loaded with cattle, that in their holds they bring American produce. Thus, after all the trouble which some of the Men-of-War upon this Station have had to hinder American Vessels from trading to our Islands, unless vigorous measures are made use of, they will again fill our Ports as much as heretofore.

I have seized one of these American Spaniards; but I might have had some difficulty in condemning her, bad I not found the American Papers, and Orders of the owners or this transmogrification.

Their Lordships know my opinion of the Custom-House Officers in these Islands. They will allow all these kind of Vessels to be admitted, under the cloak of their being Spaniards,

who may bring bullion, and are to be encouraged. I shall seize, and order Captain Collingwood to do so likewise, all these Trinidada Vessels who are American-built and navigated by Americans, and shall allow none to come to these Islands, but the small Spanish open Boats, which have hitherto been allowed; although I think, without any advantage to these Islands. If money is ever brought, those are the kind of Vessels which bring it; none other ever came to Jamaica.

I know the difficulties we shall meet with in having these Vessels prosecuted to condemnation. The Merchants and Landed people will be against us, for interest sake; the Custom-House Officers must be, as they admit them; and if they are condemned, it will show their bad conduct in too glaring colours.

I should not have sent Home this account, but have waited the arrival of the Officer who is to succeed Sir Richard Hughes in this Command, had I not thought it of such material consequence, that an account could not too soon be transmitted for their Lordships' consideration; and I beg leave to observe that already very numerous are the Americans who are covered by the Spanish qualifications, although the first of them which I have met with is only dated the 21st of May 1786. When I say one hundred, I am certain I am far within compass. Every American vessel who trades to the West Indies will call at Trinidada to receive Spanish qualifications.

This traffic, I must take the liberty of observing, brings to the King of Spain a considerable revenue; it will increase the Ship-building of America, and raise the numbers of her Seamen; while, on the contrary, it will decrease the British Shipping and Seamen in these Islands. These Americans will take off our rum, and carry it to America, so that our Vessels will shortly have no trade to those States. They will be again the Carriers between these Islands and America. For such is either the want of knowledge, or something worse, in most of our Officers here, that if a Vessel comes under Spanish colours, and produces anything Spanish, she must be a Spaniard; and as such, is granted certain privileges: for if under an English Ensign, must be a true Englishman.

Their Lordships will, I am sure, see the necessity of something being immediately done in this Spanish-American

business; and I hope they will approve of what I intend

doing.

I am, &c.,

HORATIO NElson.

TO MRS. NISBET.

[From Clark and M'Arthur, vol. i. p. 79: but they do not give the date of his Letter. It was, however, written about August 1786.]

Boreas, English Harbour, [August 1786].

My dearest Fanny, What can I say? Nothing, if I speak of the pleasure I felt at receiving your kind and affectionate letter; my thoughts are too big for utterance: you must suppose that everything which is tender, kind, and truly affectionate has possession of my whole frame. Words are not capable of conveying an idea of my feelings: nothing but reciprocity is equal to it; I flatter myself it is so. I have begun this letter, and left off, a dozen times, and found I did not know one word from another. Well, on the Saturday morning after the Berbice Schooner left me, Mr. Lightfoot came and paid me a visit, with an apology, of his having been confined to his house, or he would have done it before: that, not writing, he meant it as a mark of attention. He prevailed upon me to sleep at his house on Monday last, the day I dined with Sir Thomas Shirley. This great attention made amends for his long neglect, and I forgot all anger; I can forgive sometimes, you will allow. I only came from thence this morning; it is nine miles, and with writing ever since my arrival, I feel a little tired; therefore expect nothing but sheer stupidity.

I have also seen the great Mr. ; he says, he understood and believed I was gone to England-whistle for that! The Country air has certainly done me service. I am not getting very fat, my make will not allow it: but I can tell you, and I know your tender heart will rejoice, that I have no more

" Governor of the Leeward Islands. (Vide p. 157, ante.) He was created a Baronet in June 1786, which shows that this Letter must have been written some weeks after that date, though it is placed by Clarke and M'Arthur before Letters of February and March 1786.

VOL. I.