n it pretended
to be, very readily mentioned all the particulars relative to the force
and number of the ships in the harbour: their astonishment, however, is
not to be described, when they found themselves prisoners of war, on
board an English frigate. The worthy captain soon satisfied them, that
they had not fallen into the hands of free-booters; and, in
consideration of the scientific pursuits in which they were manifestly
engaged, the manner in which they had been captured, and the requisite
information with which they had faithfully furnished him, he told them,
in the handsomest way possible, after regaling them on board for some
time, that they should be at liberty to depart whenever they pleased,
with their boat and all it contained, on their parole of honour, to be
considered as prisoners, if his commander in chief should refuse to
acquiesce in their being thus liberated, which he did not think at all
likely to happen. Struck with such generosity of sentiment, they
earnestly entreated him to take whatever might be most acceptable from
their collection of natural curiosities, or any thing else they had to
offer; but he positively declined receiving any reward for doing what he
felt to be his duty under all the circumstances of the case, and they
parted with mutual good wishes for each other's felicity. It will
hereafter appear, that this generous act was performed to one, at least,
of the party, who retained a very grateful sense of the indulgence.

Captain Nelson continued actively employed in the West Indies, till the
Peace of 1783; but Lord Rodney's famous victory of the 12th of April
1782, which led finally to that event, had so completely damped the
ardour of the enemy, that little or nothing farther occurred, worthy of
particular notice. At the conclusion of the war, he had the honour of
attending his Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence on a visit which he
paid to the Governor of the Havannah; a circumstance which contributed
still more powerfully to cement their mutual friendship. From hence,
being under orders to return home, he sailed for England, where he
safely arrived; and his ship was paid off, at Portsmouth, about the
first week in July 1783.

In such estimation was this brave and worthy man held, even at that
period, by those who had the best opportunities of judging, that the
whole of his ship's company offered, if he could get a ship, to enter
for it immediately. Nor can we wonder at this attach