Sir,

TO PHILIP STEPHENS, ESQ., ADMIRALTY.

[Original, in the Admiralty.]

Boreas, Antigua, 1st December 1786.

Inclosed I transmit you, for their Lordships' consideration, an account of the difference of charges attending the Prosecution of two Vessels by the King's Advocate and Proctor, at the Island of Barbadoes, and those at the Leeward Islands. To the first, I stand pledged for payment; and the Cause is not yet finally decided. Therefore, the money must come from my pocket; and I am given to understand, that the Crown Lawyers of Barbadoes and Grenada will not proceed without being regularly paid, which is not in my power, or in that of very few Officers. Thus, an effectual method is fallen upon in those two Islands to hinder us from carrying the Acts of Parliament into execution. It can never be supposed that a Captain of the Navy, as a Custom-house Officer, seizes Vessels for their emolument, but as it is a duty imposed on them.

I shall continue to Seize, and must leave the Prosecution of them or not to the Crown Lawyers. I cannot pay them till the Vessels are sold, nor then if the fees are like those of Barbadoes and Grenada, for the value of most of the small Vessels does not amount to that sum.

Inclosed I also transmit you the State and Condition of his Majesty's Ships and Vessels in these Seas,

And have the honour to remain, &c.

HORATIO NELSON.

3

His Majesty's Ship Pegasus, arrived the beginning of November: the Solebay arrived the latter end of November.

3 Under the command of H. R. H. Prince William Henry.

TO MRS. NISBET.

[From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. i. p. 88.]

Off Antigua, December 12th, 1786.

Our young Prince is a gallant man: he is indeed volatile, but always with great good nature. There were two balls during his stay, and some of the old ladies were mortified that H.R.H. would not dance with them; but he says, he is determined to enjoy the privilege of all other men, that of asking any lady he pleases.

Wednesday. We arrived here this morning at daylight. His Royal Highness dined with me, and of course the Governor. I can tell you a piece of news, which is, that the Prince is fully determined, and has made me promise him, that he shall be at our wedding; and he says he will give you to me. His Royal Highness has not yet been in a private house to visit, and is determined never to do it, except in this instance. You know I will ever strive to bear such a character, as may render it no discredit to any man to take notice of me. There is no action in my whole life, but what is honourable; and I am the more happy at this time on that account; for I would, if possible, or in my power, have no man near the Prince, who can have the smallest impeachment as to character: for as an individual I love him, as a Prince I honour and revere him. My telling you this history is as to myself: my thoughts on all subjects are open to you. We shall certainly go to Barbadoes from this Island, and when I shall see you, is not possible for me to guess: so much for marrying a Sailor. We are often separated, but I trust our affections are not by any means on that account diminished. Our Country has the first demand for our services; and private convenience, or happiness, must ever give way to the Public good. Give my love to Josiah. Heaven bless, and return you safe to Your most affectionate, HORATIO NElson.

Your letter of me ind and 31st of October I received a few days 17. So then you are at last become a husband; may every tussing amend you It is. I have no doubt, the hap piest, or otherwise, state; and I believe it is most generally the man's faux f he is not happy. I most certainly have wrote repeatedly since August, which you say is the last time you heard iom me. Your name is not now upon the Bocks you were dacharged on the 4th of October. Your rom I have ca band I dare say you have many friends who, as you say, will gladly take what you can spare. You may tell them, the King's Ship, although she may bring a little for a brother, does not for any others. I begin to be very strict in my Ship, and as I get older, probably shall be more so. Whenever I may set of in another Ship, I shall be indifferent whether I ever speak to an Officer in her, but upon duty.

You know before this that his Royal Highness Prince William is under my command; and I wish that all the Navy Captains were as attentive to orders as he is. I had almost forgot to tell you that D is married, but to whom, or what, is out of my power. He has nothing left, in my opinion, but to put a pistol to his head: he is damned for ever. Pray where did you know Captain Holloway? Do you know his wife, too? I don't take him to be a conjuror. I am truly happy to hear Mr. Suckling is married. It will add to his felicity, for had he not done that, he must have kept a woman, which you will allow would have been very disagreeable. Pray give my best love and compliments where they will be well received; and believe me to be, your affectionate Brother, HORATIO NELSON.

4 The Reverend William Nelson married, on the 9th November 1786, Sarah, daughter of the Reverend Henry Yonge, Vicar of Great Torrington, in Devonshire, and cousin of Dr. Philip Yonge, Bishop of Norwich.

Of the Boreas.

Captain John Holloway of the Solebay, who died an Admiral.

7 His uncle Mr. William Suckling of the Custom House, married on the 26th October 1786, Miss Rumsey of Hampstead.

TO WILLIAM LOCKER, ESQ., TOWN MALLING.

[Autograph, in the Locker Papers.]

My dear Friend,

English Harbour, December 29th, 1786.

I am sure it is a full twelvemonth since I have had a line: you will say I don't deserve it oftener than that, however, for since May, I know of three letters which I put myself into the Packet. If you think me unmindful of the favours and kindnesses I received at your hands, you do me injustice. I am at this moment more thankful for them than I was when they were granted: then I was not so capable of judging of their value. Let this be the opinion of your Horatio and I trust it will be for the future.

You will know long before this reaches you, that Prince William is under my command: I shall endeavour to take care he is not a loser by that circumstance. He has his

foibles as well as private men, but they are far over-balanced by his virtues. In his Professional line, he is superior to near two-thirds, I am sure, of the List; and in attention to orders, and respect to his Superior Officers, I know hardly his equal: this is what I have found him. Some others, I have heard, will tell another story. The Islanders have made vast entertainments for him. But all this you will see in the English papers.

I am in momentary expectation of Sir Richard Bickerton, from reports, for the Admiralty are wonderfully secret. I wish he was arrived, for this state of uncertainty is very unpleasant. The Prince is to remain in these Seas until May, when he returns to Nova Scotia, at which time I hope to set sail for Old England; for I am most heartily sick of these Islands. Heaven bless you, my dear friend; and believe that I am unalterably yours,

HORATIO NELSON.

TO MRS. NISBET.

[From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. i. p. 89.]

1st January, 1787. How vain are human expectations. I was in hopes to have remained quiet all this week: but to-day we dine with Sir Thomas; to-morrow the Prince has a party; on Wednesday he gives a dinner at Saint John's to the Regiment; in the evening is a Mulatto ball; on Thursday a cock-fight, and we dine at Colonel Crosbie's brother's, and a ball: on Friday somewhere, but I forget; on Saturday at Mr. Byam's, the President. If we get well through all this, I shall be fit for anything; but I hope most sincerely the Commodore1 will arrive before the whole is carried into execution in many instances it is better to serve than command; and this is one of them. If the Commodore does not come down and relieve me, I think it likely we shall remain here all this month at least; for the Ship's company of the Pegasus are sick, and I cannot with propriety leave His Royal Highness by himself.

Should Sir Richard Bickerton come down, and I think he must be at Barbadoes, and send me to Nevis, I will bless him: yet I would sooner die than ask any favour. If he is polite, he will do it without; if not, he would perhaps refuse me with asking, and I should not like the mortification. What is it to attend on Princes? Let me attend on you, and I am satisfied. Some are born for attendants on great men: I rather think that it is not my particular province. His Royal Highness often tells me, he believes I am married; for he never saw a lover so easy, or say so little of the object he has a regard for. When I tell him I certainly am not, he says, Then he is sure I must have a great esteem for you, and that it is not what is (vulgarly), I do not much like the use of that word, called love.' He is right: my love is founded on esteem, the only foundation that can make the passion last. I need not tell you, what you so well know, that I wish I had a fortune to settle on you: but I trust I

Sir Thomas Shirley, the Governor.

Edward Byam, President of the Council at Antigua, and Judge of the Admiralty Court: he died in February 1817.

1 Alan, afterwards Admiral Lord Gardner.