Sir Richard sent an account of this to the Admiralty; but the case

could admit of no doubt, and Captain Nelson's conduct was approved.
He displayed the same promptitude on another occasion. While

the BOREAS, after the hurricane months were over, was riding at
anchor in Nevis Roads, a French frigate passed to leeward, close

along shore. Nelson had obtained information that this ship was
sent from Martinico, with two general officers and some engineers on

board, to make a survey of our sugar islands. This purpose he was
determined to prevent them from executing, and therefore he gave

orders to follow them. The next day he came up with them at
anchor in the roads of St. Eustatia, and anchored at about two cables'

length on the frigate's quarter. Being afterwards invited by the
Dutch governor to meet the French officers at dinner, he seized that

occasion of assuring the French captain that, understanding it was
his intention" target="_blank" title="n.意图；打算；意义">intention to honour the British possessions with a visit, he had

taken the earliest opportunity in his power to accompany him, in his
Majesty's ship the BOREAS, in order that such attention might be paid

to the officers of his Most Christian Majesty as every Englishman in
the islands would be proud to show. The French, with equal courtesy,

protested against giving him this trouble; especially, they said, as
they intended merely to cruise round the islands without landing on

any. But Nelson, with the utmostpoliteness, insisted upon paying
them this compliment, followed them close in spite of all their

attempts to elude his vigilance, and never lost sight of them; till,
finding it impossible either to deceive or escape him, they gave up

their treacherous purpose in despair, and beat up for Martinico.
A business of more serious import soon engaged his attention.

The Americans were at this time trading with our islands, taking
advantage of the register of their ships, which had been issued while

they were British subjects. Nelson knew that, by the Navigation
Act, no foreigners, directly or indirectly, are permitted to carry on

any trade with these possessions. He knew, also, that the Americans
had made themselves foreigners with regard to England; they had

disregarded the ties of blood and language when they acquired the
independence which they had been led on to claim, unhappily for

themselves before they were fit for it; and he was resolved that they
should derive no profit from those ties now. Foreigners they had

made themselves, and as foreigners they were to be treated. "If
once," said he, "they are admitted to any kind of intercourse with our

islands, the views of the loyalists, in settling at Nova Scotia, are
entirely done away; and when we are again embroiled in a French

war, the Americans will first become the carriers of these colonies,
and then have possession of them. Here they come, sell their cargoes

for ready money, go to Martinico, buy molasses, and so round and
round. The loyalist cannot do this, and consequently must sell a

little dearer. The residents here are Americans by connection and
by interest, and are inimical to Great Britain. They are as great

rebels as ever were in America, had they the power to show it." In
November, when the squadron, having arrived at Barbadoes, was to

separate, with no other orders than those for examining anchorages,
and the usual inquiries concerning wood and water, Nelson asked his

friend Collingwood, then captain of the MEDIATOR, whose opinions he
knew upon the subject, to accompany him to the commander-in-chief,

whom he then respectfully" target="_blank" title="ad.恭敬地">respectfully asked, whether they were not to attend to
the commerce of the country, and see that the Navigation Act was

respected--that appearing to him to be the intent of keeping men-of-war
upon this station in time of peace? Sir Richard Hughes replied,

he had no particular orders, neither had the Admiralty sent him any
Acts of Parliament. But Nelson made answer, that the Navigation

Act was included in the statutes of the Admiralty, with which every
captain was furnished, and that Act was directed to admirals, captains,

&c., to see it carried into execution. Sir Richard said he had never
seen the book. Upon this Nelson produced the statutes, read the

words of the Act, and apparently" target="_blank" title="ad.显然，表面上地">apparently convinced the commander-in-chief,
that men-of-war, as he said, "were sent abroad for some other purpose

than to be made a show of." Accordingly orders were given to enforce
the Navigation Act.

Major-General Sir Thomas Shirley was at this time governor of the
Leeward Islands; and when Nelson waited on him, to inform him

how he intended to act, and upon what grounds, he replied, that "old
generals were not in the habit of taking advice from young gentlemen."

"Sir," said the young officer, with that confidence in himself which
never carried him too far, and always was equal to the occasion,"I

am as old as the prime minister of England, and I think myself as
capable of commanding one of his Majesty's ships as that minister is

of governing the state." He was resolved to do his duty, whatever
might be the opinion or conduct of others; and when he arrived upon

his station at St. Kitt's, he sent away all the Americans, not choosing
to seize them before they had been well apprised that the Act would

be carried into effect, lest it might seem as if a trap had been laid for
them. The Americans, though they prudently decamped from St.

Kitt's, were emboldened by the support they met with, and resolved
to resist his orders, alleging that king's ships had no legal power to

seize them without having deputations from the customs. The planters
were to a man against him; the governors and the presidents of the

different islands, with only a single exception, gave him no support;
and the admiral, afraid to act on either side, yet wishing to oblige the

planters, sent him a note, advising him to be guided by the wishes of
the president of the council. There was no danger in disregarding

this, as it came unofficially, and in the form of advice. But scarcely
a month after he had shown Sir Richard Hughes the law, and, as he

supposed, satisfied him concerning it, he received an order from him,
stating that he had now obtained good advice upon the point, and the

Americans were not to be hindered from coming, and having free
egress and regress, if the governor chose to permit them. An order

to the same purport had been sent round to the different governors
and presidents; and General Shirley and others informed him, in an

authoritative manner, that they chose to admit American ships, as the
commander-in-chief had left the decision to them. These persons,

in his own words, he soon "trimmed up, and silenced;" but it was a
more delicate business to deal with the admiral: "I must either," said

he, "disobey my orders, or disobey Acts of Parliament. I determined
upon the former, trusting to the uprightness of my intention" target="_blank" title="n.意图；打算；意义">intentions, and

believing that my country would not let me be ruined for protecting
her commerce." With this determination he wrote to Sir Richard;

appealed again to the plain, literal, unequivocal sense of the Navigation
Act; and in respectful language told him, he felt it his duty to

decline obeying these orders till he had an opportunity of seeing and
conversing with him. Sir Richard's first feeling was that of anger,

and he was about to supersede Nelson; but having mentioned the
affair to his captain, that officer told him he believed all the squadron

thought the orders illegal, and therefore did not know how far they
were bound to obey them. It was impossible, therefore, to bring

Nelson to a court-martial, composed of men who agreed with him in
opinion upon the point in dispute; and luckily, though the admiral

wanted vigour of mind to decide upon what was right, he was not
obstinate in wrong, and had even generosity enough in his nature to

thank Nelson afterwards for having shown him his error.
Collingwood in the MEDIATOR, and his brother, Wilfred Collingwood,

in the RATTLER, actively co-operated with Nelson. The custom-houses
were informed that after a certain day all foreign vessels

found in the ports would be seized; and many were, in consequence,
seized, and condemned in the Admiralty Court. When the BOREAS

arrived at Nevis, she found four American vessels deeply laden, and
what are called the island colours flying--white, with a red cross.

They were ordered to hoist their proper flag, and depart within 48
hours; but they refused to obey, denying that they were Americans.

Some of their crews were then examined in Nelson's cabin, where
the Judge of Admiralty happened to be present. The case was plain;

they confessed that they were Americans, and that the ships, hull
and cargo, were wholly American property; upon which he seized

them. This raised a storm: the planters, the custom-house, and
the governor, were all against him. Subscriptions were opened, and