proper to be performed, in a climate so enervating, and a country so
luxurious, would naturally, it was not doubted, rather contend for,
than against, such claims as seemed to favour these indulgences. Here,
too, with very few exceptions, they met with equally zealous and still
more powerful supporters.
The governors and custom-house officers, in fact, agreed that, by the
Navigation Act, the Americans had a right to trade with all our West
India islands; and the merchants and planters, who likewise found it for
their present interest to embrace the same doctrine, pretended that they
were of the same opinion.
Captain Nelson, in the mean time, ever as studious to acquire a due
knowledge of the full extent of his professional duties, as zealously
determined completely to perform the utmost that they could possibly
require of him, unswayed by any sinister or selfish motive, viewed the
business in a very different light; and felt that, as an executive naval
officer, it was his business to enforce, on all occasions, the maritime
laws of his country.
Accordingly, in November 1784, the hurricane months being over, and the
squadron arrived at Barbadoes, where the ships were to separate for the
different islands, with no other orders than those for examining
anchorages, and usual enquiries after wood and water, as this did not
appear to him the intent of placing men of war, in peaceable times, he
asked Captain Collingwood to accompany him, their sentiments being
exactly similar, and ask the commander in chief a few questions. They,
accordingly, proceeded together, to Sir Richard Hughes; when Captain
Nelson respectfully asked, whether they were not to attend to the
commerce of their country, and to take care that the British trade was
kept in those channels which the navigation laws pointed out? Sir
Richard replied, that he had no particular orders, nor had the Admiralty
sent him any acts of parliament. That, Captain Nelson remarked, was very
singular, as every captain of a man of war was furnished with the
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