ment, when we behold
him, on shore, after the conclusion of their services, employing all his
activity and address in attempts to get the wages due to his good
fellows, as he kindly called them, for various ships in which they had
served during the war. The infernal plan of turning them over from ship
to ship, he frequently declared, occasioned the chief disgust which
seamen have to the navy; and both prevented them from being attached to
their officers, and their officers from caring two-pence about them.

A few days after the Albemarle was paid off, Lord Hood introduced
Captain Nelson at St. James's; where he remarked that the king was
exceedingly attentive to what his lordship said. The beginning of the
week following, he went to Windsor; and there took leave of the Duke of
Clarence, who was then about to embark for the continent.

As Captain Nelson had now no thoughts of going to sea; his fortune not
permitting him to live on board a king's ship, to use his own words, "in
such a manner as is going on at present;" after again visiting his
family and friends in Norfolk, he agreed to reside a short time in
France, with Captain Macnamara, for the purpose of acquiring a knowledge
of the French language.

Sterne's Sentimental Journey, he said, was the best description he could
give of this tour. He was highly diverted by looking what a curious
figure the postillions, in their jack boots, and their rats of horses,
made together. He was told that they travelled _en poste_, but did not
get on above four miles an hour. Their chaises were without springs, and
the roads paved like London streets. They were shewn into an inn, as the
Frenchmen called it; but he thought it more like a pig-stye: there, in a
room with two straw beds, they had two pigeons for supper, on a dirty
cloth, with wooden handled knives. "Oh!" exclaimed he, "what a
transition from happy England!" But they laughed at the repast; and went
to bed with a determination that nothing should ruffle their temper. In
their way to St. Omer's, they passed through a very fine corn country,
diversified with woods; and Captain Nelson, though a Norfolk man,
acknowledged it to be the best place for game he had ever known.
Partridges, at Montrieul, were sold at two-pence halfpenny a brace, and
pheasants and woodcocks in proportion. On arriving at St. Omer's, he was
surprised to find it, instead of a dirty, nasty town, as he had always
heard it represented, a large city, with