parted with mutual good wishes for each other's felicity. It will
hereafter appear, that this generous act was performed to one, at least,
of the party, who retained a very grateful sense of the indulgence.
Captain Nelson continued actively employed in the West Indies, till the
Peace of 1783; but Lord Rodney's famous victory of the 12th of April
1782, which led finally to that event, had so completely damped the
ardour of the enemy, that little or nothing farther occurred, worthy of
particular notice. At the conclusion of the war, he had the honour of
attending his Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence on a visit which he
paid to the Governor of the Havannah; a circumstance which contributed
still more powerfully to cement their mutual friendship. From hence,
being under orders to return home, he sailed for England, where he
safely arrived; and his ship was paid off, at Portsmouth, about the
first week in July 1783.
In such estimation was this brave and worthy man held, even at that
period, by those who had the best opportunities of judging, that the
whole of his ship's company offered, if he could get a ship, to enter
for it immediately. Nor can we wonder at this attachment, when we behold
him, on shore, after the conclusion of their services, employing all his
activity and address in attempts to get the wages due to his good
fellows, as he kindly called them, for various ships in which they had
served during the war. The infernal plan of turning them over from ship
to ship, he frequently declared, occasioned the chief disgust which
seamen have to the navy; and both prevented them from being attached to
their officers, and their officers from caring two-pence about them.
A few days after the Albemarle was paid off, Lord Hood introduced
Captain Nelson at St. James's; where he remarked that the king was
exceedingly attentive to what his lordship said. The beginning of the
week following, he went to Windsor; and there took leave of the Duke of
Clarence, who was then about to embark for the continent.
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