nearly the whole Trade between America and your Majesty's said Colonies was carried on in American bottoms.

That your Memorialist, in the performance of his duty kept so strict an eye over this proceeding, that he shortly made several Seizures, which were prosecuted by your Majesty's Attorney-General and Counsel in the several Courts of ViceAdmiralty of the said Islands of St. Christopher's and Nevis, and there condemned upon the clearest evidence.

But these Seizures, and your Memorialist's unabating alertness to prevent this evasion of your Majesty's proclamation, and put a stop to a mode of commercial intercourse so advantageous to America and prejudicial to Great Britain, failed not to excite a rancorous disposition of some of the inhabitants of the said Islands concerned in this illegal Commerce towards your Memorialist, which, after having been shown in various ways, has at length stirred up a persecution of your Memorialist, under colour of Law, upon the following occasion:

Your Memorialist being informed that four American Vessels under English colours had gone into the Road of Nevis, and were trading there, went to the said Island and sent for the Masters of the said Vessels on board your Majesty's Ship, in order to inspect their Papers, and examine if they were properly qualified to trade in the British Colonies; three of which said Masters accordingly, without force, or compulsion, or even a refusal on their parts, readily came, and after answering such questions as were thought necessary, (and put by your Majesty's Counsel learned in the Law, who, at the instance of your Memorialist, that he might be furnished with proper legal advice on the occasion, had accompanied him from St. Christopher's) were returned to their own Vessels again: that the said Vessels being thought proper objects for Seizure, your Memorialist, acting by the advice of your Majesty's Counsel, seized them, and they were forthwith prosecuted and condemned as forfeited by the Court of Vice-Admiralty of Nevis. This increased the ferment and irritation amongst the trading part of the inhabitants against your Memorialist, and the several Masters of the said four Vessels have been instigated to procure divers Writs for the arrest of your Memorialist, under pretence of their having been assaulted and imprisoned by him, to the amount of four thousand pounds damages, which

assault and imprisonment is no more than what your Memorialist has before stated; and, moreover, one of the said Masters never was on board the Boreas, or even seen by your Memorialist.

That notwithstanding these glaring facts, which might be proved in your Memorialist's favour upon a Trial, such is the disposition of the generality of the people of the said Island of Nevis, that your Petitioner is advised by your Majesty's Attorney-General, and your Majesty's Counsel, that it would be unsafe, at present, to rely too much on the justice of his cause, and put himself upon the Country for trial.

Thus circumstanced, your Memorialist is obliged to keep himself confined to your Majesty's Ship, which, added to the unhealthiness of a West India climate, has much impaired your Memorialist's health. But he cheerfully submits to these sufferings, incurred in your Majesty's Service, if they may be allowed to claim your Majesty's attention and consideration, which your Memorialist now, and on all future occasions, most humbly presumes to solicit from your Royal goodness and humanity. In confidence whereof, and in all duty, he thus ventures to lay before his Royal Master, not only the sufferings of his faithful servant, but also the inquitous practices carried on by the alienated Americans, and their adherents in the British Colonies, in contempt to the Laws, and to the infinite prejudice of the Commerce of Great Britain.

June 29th, 1785,

HORATIO NELSON,

A

REPRESENTATION

OF THE ILLEGAL TRADE WHICH IS NOW CARRYING ON BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE ISLAND OF ST. CHRISTOPHERS; AND ALSO THE PRACTICES OF THE OFFICERS OF HIS MAJESTY'S CUSTOMS TO THAT ISLAND.

[This Representation was forwarded to the Admiralty, by Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Hughes, on the 19th June 1785. A copy of it occurs in Captain Nelson's Narrative, vide p. 178 post.]

In November last the Rattler, Captain Wilfred Collingwood, was put under my command by Sir Richard Hughes, Baronet, Commander-in-Chief at the Leeward Islands, in order to pro

tect the Islands of Montserrat, Nevis, St. Christopher's, and all the Virgin Islands. My orders to Captain Collingwood were, to protect the Commerce of Great Britain, and by every means in his power to hinder illicit Trade or proceedings from being carried into effect. In consequence of my orders the Rattler arrived in Basseterre Roads, on the 17th of November last. Upon examining those Vessels which had not shown their Colours to the King's Ship, the Ship Thomas, Thomas Kelly, Master, belonging to North Carolina, appeared to be one. When Captain Collingwood asked the Master why he did not hoist the Colours of the Nation to which he belonged, he answered that the Collector of the Customs had desired him not to do it. This Ship had received the sanction of the Customs to sell her cargo.

In December, upon the Rattler's arrival in Basseterre Roads from Antigua, Captain Collingwood found the Brig Chance, Stephen Pearce, Master, belonging to Rhode Island, and the Nanette Schooner belonging to Guadaloupe; all which Vessels had been importing goods and merchandise into this Colony, contrary to the Act of Navigation. But Captain Collingwood's humanity would not allow him to seize those Vessels as forfeited, as they had been led into the predicament in which they then lay by the Officers of the Customs.

On the 7th of January I arrived in Basseterre Roads, where was laying the Ship Fanny, Archibald Burnham, Master, belonging to Middleton, Connecticut. He had landed a part of his cargo under permission from the Officers of the Customs; but as the importation was illegal, I ordered her to sail, not choosing to seize her, as the Master had been led into the snare by the Officers of the Customs. These are only meant to fix the facts of the illegal Trade; for numerous indeed, I believe, are the American Vessels which have imported and exported merchandize into and from these Islands, for when ever the Men-of-War are absent for a few days, constantly, when I returned, have I received good information that three or four Americans had unloaded their cargoes and sailed.

And at Sandy Point I verily believe the case is still worse. There, I have every reason to think, that till very lately, the American Ships and Vessels have had free ingress and egress,

and I have good reason for believing that many Americans whom I would not permit to sell their cargoes at Basseterre, have often been permitted to do it at Sandy Point, and have also often procured Registers for their Vessels.

HORATIO NELSON.

June 1785.

TO WILLIAM LOCKER, ESQ., WEST MALLING.

[Autograph, in the Locker Papers.]

My dear Friend,

Boreas, English Harbour, September 4th, 1785.

Our friend Kingsmill will have told you of my captivity, and of all the disasters which I have suffered by having acted with a proper spirit against the villanies of a certain set of men settled in these Islands from America and have brought their rebel principles with them. If Ministers do not support me, may they find the want of Officers to support them. You know, from this vile hole that we hardly hear of the arrival of the Packet at St. John's before her time of sailing arrives, therefore, from this place, you will not expect a long letter; indeed, my head has been so much taken up with Law, that I have very much neglected my best friends, who, I am sure, have great reason to complain of me; but I throw myself upon their generosity, and hope they will be sorry for the employment which has appertained to me this some time past.

On the 24th last, we had a most severe gale of wind; the mischief is great, but not so much as might have been expected. The Men-of War rode out the gale, but very many small Vessels are lost about the Islands. At Martinico, we have a flying report almost everything is destroyed. From Barbadoes and Grenada we have not heard; I should hope they have escaped. I wish I could give you any good tidings relative to your Dominica estate, but you must not be sanguine about it: I was upon the property, but too certain. However, I have Mr. Bradley's letter with all the particulars by me, and, rest assured, what

• Alluding to his being confined to his Ship to avoid an arrest at the suit of the owners of some American vessels which he had seized. Vide his Memorial, p. 136, and his Letter of March 5th, 1786, p. 156.

ever I can do, you may command me. When you see Commissioner Kirke, remember me kindly to him and his family. I feel much obliged by their kind inquiries. To the family of the Bradleys say every [thing] for me. How you surprised me about poor Mrs. Arbuthnot; that family has turned her brain. Farewell, my dear friend, and rest assured with what sincere regard and esteem, I am, your much obliged Friend and Servant,

HORATIO NELSON.

TO MRS. NISBET.

From Clarke and M'Arthur's "Life of Lord Nelson, vol. i. p. 79.

[This Letter is the first of the series of Letters addressed by Nelson to the Lady who became his wife, (vide p. 217, post.) which are printed in Clarke and M⭑Arthur's Life of Lord Nelson, who state that they received the Letters written before Mrs. Nelson's marriage from Mrs. Rose, her relation. They are now reprinted from that Work, every effort to obtain access to the Originals having failed.]

Boreas, English Harbour, 11th September, 1785. Indeed, my dear Fanny, I had buoyed myself up with hopes that the Admiral's Schooner would have given me a line from you: but the tidings she brought of the release of poor Mrs. Herbert, from this world, sufficiently apologize for your not thinking of an absentee. Yet this believe from my heart, that I partake in all the sorrows you experience; and I comfort myself, that however great your grief at this moment may be, at losing a person who was so deservedly dear to you, as your good Aunt; yet, when reason takes place, you must rather have pleasure in knowing she is released from those torments she had undergone for months past. Time ever has, and in the present instance I trust may have, a tendency to soften grief into a pleasing remembrance; and her unspotted character must afford you real comfort. Call Religion to your aid; and it will convince you, that her conduct in this world was such as insures everlasting happiness in that which is to

come.

I have received a letter from Mr. Herbert, in answer to

* Her Aunt, apparently the wife of the President of Nevis.