in the handsomest terms of acknowledgment for the
treatment which he had received on board the Albe-
mayle.

The self-constraint which Nelson exerted in sub-
duing this attachment made him naturally desire to be
at sea; and when, upon visiting Lord Howe at the
Admiralty, he was asked if he wished to be employed,
he made answer that he did. Accordingly, in March,
he was appointed to the Boreas, 28 guns, going to the
Leeward Islands, as a cruiser, on the peace establish-
ment. Lady Hughes and her family went out with
him to Admiral Sir Richard Hughes, who commanded
on that station. His ship was full of young midship-
men, of whom there were not less than thirty on
board: and happy were they whose lot it was to be
placed with such a captain. If he perceived that a boy
was afraid at first going aloft, he would say to him,
in a friendly manner: "Well, sir, I am going a race
to the mast-head, and beg that I may meet you there."
The poor little fellow instantly began to climb, and
got up how he could, -- Nelson never noticed in what
manner; but, when they met in the top, spoke cheer-
fully to him; and would say, how much any person
was to be pitied who fancied that getting up was
either dangerous or difficult. Every day he went into
the schoolroom, to see that they were pursuing their
nautical studies; and at noon he was always the first on
deck with his quadrant. Whenever he paid a visit of
ceremony some of these youths accompanied him: and
when he went to dine with the governor at Barbadoes,
he took one of them in his hand and presented him,
saying, "Your Excellency must excuse me for bring-
ing one of my midshipmen. I make it a rule to intro-
duce them to all the good company I can, as they have
few to look up to, besides myself, during the time
they are at sea."

When Nelson arrived in the West Indies he found
himself senior captain, and, consequently, second in
command on that station. Satisfactory as this was, it

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