element, he could have no hope of any opportunity to demonstrate his
wonderful abilities till that national calamity should arrive: and,
though he was much too good and pious a man, to be desirous of war, for
no other purpose than a display of his own skill and valour; he was, at
the same time, far too wise and wary, to imagine that a nation so rich
in commerce as Great Britain, surrounded by artful, envious, and
powerful enemies, would be permitted long to preserve an honourable
state of public tranquillity. He was, therefore, as an individual, ever
prepared for what he naturally expected soon to occur; and he was of
opinion, that the power of the country should be kept in an equal state
of continual readiness.
In the year 1790, when the cruelties exercised by the Spaniards at
Nootka Sound, seemed to have awakened the national vengeance, and an
armament was accordingly ordered to be prepared, he immediately offered
his services at the Admiralty; and is said to have felt not a little
mortified, at finding his application ineffectual. The fact, however,
appears to have been, that offers from commanders of longer standing had
previously been made and accepted for all the ships then meant to be
immediately commissioned. No blame, therefore, could be fairly imputed
to the Admiralty, on the occasion: and, when that business came, soon
afterwards, to be adjusted, and the ships paid off, he had reason to
congratulate himself on not having been put to expences for equipment,
which the advantages of so little actual service were quite inadequate
to repay. This, perhaps, at that period, might be no inconsiderable
consolation.
The sum finally stipulated to be paid by Spain, on this occasion,
besides restoring the vessels unjustly seized, was two hundred and ten
thousand dollars.
After two years more passed in retirement, the French revolutionary war
having extended it's baneful influence to this country, there became an
instant necessity for preparing all the strength of our navy to oppose
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