at length able to effect his purpose with the butt end. On his return, Captain Lutwidge reprimanded him for leaving the ship without leave, and in a severe tone demanded, what motive could possibly induce him to undertake so rash an action; the young hero, with great simplicity, replied, "I wished, sir, to get the skin for my father.

On the return of the vessels to England they were paid off, and Mr. Nelson desired to be appointed to one of the ships of a squadron destined to the East Indies. He was accordingly placed in the Sea Horse, Captain Farmer, of 20 guns, and in this ship was stationed to watch in the fore-top, whence in time he was placed on the quarter-deck. During this voyage, he visited almost every part of the East Indies from Bengal to Bussora; but ill health afflicting him, Sir Edward Hughes, with great kindness, ordered him home in the Dolphin, Captain James Pigott; which ship being paid off in September 1776, Mr. Nelson received on the 26th of that month, an order to act as Lieutenant in the Worcester, 64 guns, Captain Mark Robinson, then under sailing orders for Gibraltar, with a convoy; and he was at sea with convoys until the 2d of April, 1777.

On the 8th of April he passed his examination as lieutenant, and the next day received his commission as second of the Lowestoffe, 32 guns, Captain William Locker, in which ship he arrived at Jamaica; but desi.ing more active employment, he solicited an appointment to the command of a schooner, tender to the Lowestoffe; and in that small vessel eagerly availed himself of the opportunity of becoming a complete pilot for all the intri- | cate passages through the Keys (islands), situated on the northern side of Hispaniola. During his continuance in the Lowestoffe, a circumstance oc

curred which so strongly presaged and marked his character, that we shall here record it.

"In a strong gale of wind and an heavy sea, the Lowestoffe captured an American letter of marque. The captain ordered the first lieutenant to board her, which he accordingly attempted, but was not able to effect, owing to a tremendous sea. On his return to the ship, Captain Locker exclaimed"Have I then no officer who can board the prize ?" On hearing this, the master immediately ran to the gangway in order to jump into the boat, when Lieutenant Nelson suddenly stopped him, saying, "It is my turn now; if I come back, it will be yours."

Soon after the arrival of Sir Peter Parker at Jamaica, in 1778, he appointed Lieutenant Nelson third of the Bristol, his flag ship; from which, by rotation he became the first, and under Sir Peter Parker's flag concluded his services in the rank of a lieutenant. On the 18th of December, in that year, he was appointed, on that station, Commander of the Badger brig; in which he was soon ordered to protect the Mosquito shore and the Bay of Honduras from the depredations of American privateers. In this service he, acquired the grateful. respect of the settlers, who unanimously voted him their thanks, and expressed their regret on his quitting the station.

On the 11th of June, 1779, Captain Nelson obtained his post rank, and was believed at that time to have qualified himself for his situation, equal, it would probably be injustice to say superior, to any other officer in the service. He had particularly attended to the duties of a pilot, and had become a most able one. The first ship he commanded was the Hinchinbroke. On the arrival of Count D'Es tang at Hispaniola, with a numerous fleet and ar

my from Martinico, an attack on Jamaica was im mediately expected: in this critical situation of the island, Captain Nelson was entrusted with the command of the batteries at Port Royal. In January, 1780, he was appointed to the command of the naval department in the expedition against Fort Juan, and performed the service with great gallantry. After storming an out-post of the enemy situated on an island in the river, he constructed batteries, and fought the Spaniards with their own guns. To his conduct the reduction of the fortress was in a great measure attributed, and he received the thanks and plaudits of his superiors and colleagues.

His exertions and fatigues in this expedition had visibly impaired his health, and on his return to Jamaica he was advised to go to Europe, which he did in the Lion, commanded by the Hon. William Cornwallis, by whose care and attention his life was preserved. He was eleven weeks at Bath before he recovered the use of his limbs.

In August, 1781, he was appointed to the command of the Albemarle, and in convoying some vessels to Newfoundland and Quebec, shewed his address in avoiding the chace of three ships of the line and a frigate. He sailed from Quebec to New York in October, 1782, and joined the fleet under the command of Sir Samuel Hood. In November he sailed to the West Indies, and was actively employed until the peace, when he was ordered to England, being directed in his way to attend Prince William Henry on his visit to the Havannah. On his arrival in England his ship was paid off, and during the autumn of 1783, and spring of 1784, he went and resided in France, and at that time was appointed to the Boreas frigate, ordered to the Leeward Islands.

In this command he had an opportunity of shewing his firmness and discretion in some claims made by the Americans relative to the trade of the West Indies. From July 1786, until June 1787, he continued in the same station, and at length sailed for England. In March 1787, he married Frances Herbert Nesbit, of the island of Nevis, daughter of William Herbert, Esq. senior judge, and neice to Mr. Herbert, president of that island; the bride was given away by Prince William Henry.

The Boreas being paid off in November 1787, Captain Nelson retired to enjoy the comforts of domestic society at the parsonage-house of Burnham Thorpe, which his father lent him for a place of residence. Here he continued until the year 1790; and that interval may be set down as the only period of repose he had enjoyed from the active employment of his profession from the age of twelve years.

On the dispute with the Spaniards, in 1790, relative to Nootka Sound, Captain Nelson left his retirement, and offered his services, which were not accepted; but on the 30th of January, 1793, he was appointed to the Agamemnon, of 64 guns, under the command of Lord Hood, in the Mediter

ranean.

In this situation he was continually employed in acts of gallantry, which soon rendered his name renowned to his own countrymen, and formidable to the enemy. At Toulon, at Bastia, and Calvi, his exertions were unremitted, and at the siege of the latter place he lost the sight of his right eye. He again distinguished himself in the actions of the 13th and 14th of March, and 13th of July, 1795, and afterwards was appointed to co-operate with the Austrian General De Vins, at Vado Bay, on the coast of Genoa; in which service he continued until the month of November.

In this year he was employed in the blockade of Leghorn, the taking of Port Ferrajo, with the island of Caprea. and in the evacuation of Bastia. The month of December, 1796, was signalized by the capture of La Sabina, a Spanish frigate, of 40 guns and 286 men, by Captain Nelson, now a commodore in La Minerve frigate. On the 14th of February, 1797, the memorable battle of St. Vincent's took place, in which our commodore acquired laurels which will never fade, by the capture of the Santissima Trinidada, of 136 guns, and the San Nicholas, with such circumstances of conduct and valour as never were surpassed, nor ever can be sufficiently admired and applauded. For this exploit he was rewarded with the insignia of the Bath, a gold medal from his sovereign, and the freedom of the city of London in a gold box.

In April, 1797, he hoisted his flag as rear-admiral of the blue, and was appointed to the command of the inner squadron at the blockade of Cadiz, and while in this employment exhibited as many signal instances of personal bravery, as on any former occasion. On the 15th of July, he was detached, with a small squadron, to attack the town of Santa Cruz, in the island of Teneriffe. This enterprize did not wholly succeed, and Sir Horatio retreated with the loss of his right arm, and the acquisition of a greater portion of military glory. It was in December before he was sufficiently restored to resume his profession. On his first appearance at court, his sovereign received him in the most gracious and tender manner; and when, with deep sensibility of condolence, the king expressed his sorrow at the loss the noble admiral had sustained, and at his impaired state of health, which might deprive the country of his future services. Sir Horatio replied, "May it please your majesty, I can never think that a loss which the performance