hat friendship which was continued, on his part, to what may
be considered as the last moment of his life; and which, on the part of
Mr Davison, extending beyond the grave, still survives for all who were
dear to him, and to every thing that regards a due veneration of his
memory.

In less than a month, while comfortably situated at Quebec, chiefly
residing on shore at Mr. Davison's, with no other expectations, or
desire, than those of returning to England, the arrival of the Drake
sloop, and Cockatrice cutter, brought directions for the transports to
be fitted for the reception of troops, and sent to New York; in
consequence of which, Captain Nelson was ordered to conduct the fleet
thither. This, as he observed, in the letter last quoted, dated from the
Isle of Bec, in the River St. Lawrence, was "a very _pretty job_, at
this late season of the year; for our sails are," adds he, "at this
moment frozen to the yards."

On arriving at New York, about the beginning of November, where he found
Lord Hood, he requested that admiral would take him to the West Indies.
Lord Hood, accordingly, wrote to Admiral Digby, who was commander in
Chief at New York; and, he was, in consequence, to have sailed with the
fleet: but, for some private reasons, when his ship was under sail from
New York, to join Lord Hood, Captain Nelson was sent for, on shore; and
informed, that he was to be kept forty-eight hours after the sailing of
the fleet. Though this is said to have been for his own individual
advantage, he felt much disappointed at not sailing with the fleet. In
the mean time, Lord Hood had highly praised him, in a very liberal
letter, for wishing to go off this station, to a station of service,
concluding with the most encouraging assurances of friendship.

Without pretending to penetrate into all that relates to the private
reasons above stated, it is certain that Lord Hood was desirous to have
Captain Nelson, and that Admiral Digby was unwilling to part with him:
so sensible, at this early period, were both these commanders of his
value. The contest, however, was at length concluded, by Admiral Hood's
agreeing to leave a ship of nearly double the force for the Albemarle;
which, after all, Admiral Digby is said to have scarcely considered as
sufficient.

On joining the fleet, Lord Hood's notice of Captain Nelson was in the
highest degree flattering to so young a man. He actually treated him as
a son, and was always ready to grant