be my undisguised sentiments towards the little fellow. I am uneasy, but not unwell. Nothing but the Admiral's orders to be at Barbadoes at a given time, hindered me from coming down after my letters. Sir Richard Hughes, I am certain, would have overlooked my disobedience of orders, and have thought I had served the friend, who had neglected to bring my letters, very properly. But I cannot bear the idea of disobeying orders: I should not like to have mine disobeyed : therefore I came on. However, it was a toss-up, I assure you. [Apparently in continuation.]

March 9th.

At last we are arrived; and as we came into the bay on one side, the Adamant 3 made her appearance on the other. Captain K― has brought me one letter from Antigua; for which one, although I know there are more, I retract all my mischievous wishes; and I have received several at this place from my sister and brother; the former from Bath, where my old friend Scriviner desires to be kindly remembered to me. I don't think my dear sister knows of my intentions of altering my situation, or she would have mentioned it. My friend M. is still there: but I have not a line. It is wonderful, and I cannot account for it. I know myself to be so steady in my friendships, that I cannot bear the least coolness or inattention in others. My brother takes it for granted I am a married man, and in consequence desires his love. From my uncle Suckling I have a very kind letter, saying he will do everything in his power to add to my happiness; and if I should want it, that he will give me pecuniary assistance.5 It is strongly reported that we are to sail from this Country in June next: if that is to be the case, my time is short. All this affects my spirits, and will not allow me to feel so pleasant as I wish; and makes me the more regret that I had not paid greater attention to getting money. But I will have done with this subject. You must write often, and long

letters. I am, &c.

HORATIO NElson.

The Adamant, Captain David Knox, then a Commander: he was Posted on the 10th of February 1789.

Apparently Captain Moutray, who died at Bath in 1785.

"This was liberally done for some years by Mr. Suckling"-Clarke and M'Arthur, vol.i. p. 81.

5

TO WILLIAM LOCKER, ESQ., WEST MALLING.

[Autograph, in the Locker Papers.]

My dear Friend,

Boreas, off Martinico, March 5th, 1786.

Your kind letter of December 5th I only received a few days ago at Antigua, for the Post-Offices here are sadly careless of our letters, and if we do not happen to be at the Island where they arrive, they will not be at the trouble of forwarding them to us. You accuse me too justly of not writing; I know myself to be a sad careless fellow in that respect, and too often neglect my best friends; but really for this last year I have been plagued to death. This Station has not been overpleasant had it not been for Collingwood, it would have been the most disgreeable I ever saw. Little poor fellow, between Bacchus and Venus, is scarcely ever thoroughly in his senses. I am very sorry for him, for his heart is good; but he is not fit to command a Man-of-War. His Ship is the merest privateer you ever saw-such men hurt the Service more than it is in the power of ten good ones to bring back. The rest of the Captains I know nothing of; nor am I ambitious of the honour of their acquaintance. Sir Richard Hughes you know, probably better than myself, and that he is a fiddler; therefore, as his time is taken up tuning that instrument, you will consequently expect the Squadron is cursedly out of tune. I don't like to say much against my Commander-in-Chief; there has been too much of that the late War; but as I only tell it to you as a friend, you will not let it go further than you think right. Not that I can care who knows it; for I shall produce my orders whenever I come home, from some circumstances which has lately happened.

It was near the hurricane months when I arrived in this Country, consequently nothing could be done till they were over in November, when the Squadron arrived at Barbadoes, and the Ships were to be sent to the different Islands, with orders only to examine the anchorages, and whether there was wood and water. This did not appear to me to be the intent of placing Men-of-War in peaceable times, therefore I asked Collingwood to go with me (for his senti

ments and mine were exactly similar) to the Admiral. I then asked him if we were not to attend to the Commerce of our Country, and to take care that the British trade was kept in those channels that the Navigation Laws pointed out. He answered, he had no orders, nor had the Admiralty sent him any Acts of Parliament. I told him it was very odd, as every Captain of a Man-of-War was furnished with the Statutes of the Admiralty, in which was the Navigation Act, which Act was directed to Admirals, Captains, &c., to see it carried into execution. He said he had never seen the Book; but having produced and read the Laws to him, he seemed convinced that Men-of-War were sent abroad for some other purpose than to be made a show of. (The rebel Americans at this time filled. our Ports.) Sir Richard then gave Orders to all the Squadron to see the Navigation Act carried into execution. When I went to my Station at St. Kitts, I turned away all the rebels, not choosing to seize them at that time, as it would have appeared a trap for them.

In December, to my astonishment, comes down an order from him, telling us he had received good advice, and requiring us not to hinder the Americans from coming in, and having free egress and regress, if the Governors chose to allow them; and a copy of the order he sent to the Governors and the Presidents of the Islands. The General Shirley and others began by sending letters not far different from orders, that he should admit them in such and such situations; telling me the Admiral had left it to them, but they thought it right to let me know it. Mr. Shirley I soon trimmed up and silenced. Sir Richard Hughes' was a more delicate business; I must either disobey my orders, or disobey Acts of Parliament, which the Admiral was disobey

* General Thomas Shirley was appointed Captain-General of the Leeward Islands, in 1781, and in June 1786, was created a Baronet: he died at Bath, in February 1800. Stemmata Shirleiana, 4to. 1841, p. 245.

Captain Wallis says in his Narrative, that Governor Shirley, feeling irritated at Nelson's remonstrances, told him, "That old Generals were not in the habit of taking advice from young gentlemen;" to which Nelson replied, "I have the honour, Sir, of being as old as the Prime Minister of England, and think myself as capable of commanding one of his Majesty's Ships as that Minister is of governing the State."-Original, in the Nelson Papers.

ing. I determined upon the former, trusting to the uprightness of my intention, and believed that my Country would not allow me to be ruined, by protecting her Commerce. I first, to Sir Richard, expatiated upon the Navigation Laws to the best of my ability; told him I was certain some person had been giving him advice, which he would be sorry for having taken against the positive directions of an Act of Parliament; and that I was certain Sir Richard had too much regard for the Commerce of Great Britain to suffer our worst Enemies to take it from us; and that too at a time when Great Britain was straining every nerve to suppress illegal Trade at Home, which only affected the Revenue; and that I hoped we should not be singular in allowing a much more ruinous traffic to be carried on under the King's Flag; and in short, that I should decline obeying his orders, till I had an opportunity of seeing and talking to him, at the same time making him an apology.

At first, I hear, he was going to send a Captain to supersede me; but having mentioned the matter to his Captain, he was told that he believed all the Squadron thought he had sent illegal orders, therefore did not know how far they were obliged to obey them. This being their sentiments, he could not try me here, and now he finds I am all right, and thanks me for having put him right. I told the Custom-Houses I should, after such a day, seize all Foreigners in our Islands, and keep them out to the utmost of my power till that time: the Custom-Houses fancied I could not seize without a Deputation, therefore disregarded my threats. In May last I seized the first I had the Governor, the Customs, all the Planters upon me; subscriptions were soon filled to prosecute me; and my Admiral stood neuter, although his Flag was then in the Roads. Before the first Vessel was tried, I had seized four others; and having sent for the Masters on board to examine them, and the Marines on board the vessels, not allowing some of them to go on shore, I had Writs taken out against me, and damages laid for the enormous sum of £4,000 sterling.

When the Trial came on, I was protected by the Judge for the day; but the Marshal was desired to arrest [me], and the Merchants promised to indemnify them for the act; but the Judge having declared he would send him

ET. 27.1

LETTERS.

159

I fortunately

to prison if he dared to do it, he desisted. 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 suf Trial of two days, we carried our I was a close prifered more in proportion than any of them, he could not

blame me. At last, after a
cause, and the vessels were condemned.

soner on board for eight weeks, for had I been taken,
assuredly should have been cast for the whole sum.

I most 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 letters,

in the execution of my duty, and referring him to my

&c., as there was in them, what concerned him not to have

suffered.

to Sir Richard Hughes, and the Officers under him, for their The Treasury, by the last Packet, has transmitted thanks activity and zeal in protecting the Commerce of Great BriHad they known what I have told you, (and if

tain.

my

me.

friends think I may, without impropriety, tell the story my-
self, I shall do it when I get Home,) I don't think they would
have bestowed thanks in that quarter and have neglected
I feel much hurt that after the loss of health and risk of for-
tune, another should be thanked for what I did against his
I either deserved to be sent out of the Service, or at

orders.
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.

inquiries what it is 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 .

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 He is at Grenada for his health, having had a para

killed.

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