e British channel.

On the 3d of March 1778, Sir Peter Parker, who had, on the preceding
29th of January, been promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral of the White,
arrived at Port Royal, in the Bristol of fifty guns; having been
appointed to succeed the brave old Admiral Gayton, as commander in chief
on the Jamaica station, who was desirous of retiring to England. He,
accordingly, sailed; and, attended by his usual good fortune to the
last, added another American capture, of considerable value, on his
passage; making, in all, two hundred and thirty-six prizes.

The character which Lieutenant Nelson had acquired, occasioned him soon
to be taken notice of by Sir Peter Parker; who immediately appointed him
third-lieutenant of his own flag-ship, the Bristol. The pleasing manners
of Lieutenant Nelson, added to his manifest spirit and talents, so
perfectly gained the esteem of the commander in chief, as well as of his
amiable and excellent lady, to whom he had been kindly introduced on
shore, that he was promoted, in the course of a very few months, by the
regular gradations, to be first-lieutenant, and even enabled to
conclude his services in that rank.

On the 8th of December, in this very year, he was appointed, by Sir
Peter Parker, Commander of the Badger brig; in which he was, shortly
after, ordered to protect the Musquito shore, and the Bay of Honduras,
from the depredations of American privateers. So ably did he acquit
himself in the discharge of this duty, and so greatly had he endeared
himself to the settlers during the short time he was among them, that
they unanimously voted him their thanks for his services, and sensibly
expressed their regrets at the necessity of his quitting the station.

While he commanded the Badger, being at anchor in Montego Bay, Jamaica,
his majesty's ship the Glasgow, of twenty guns, Captain Thomas Lloyd,
came into the bay. At six o'clock in the evening, about two hours and a
half after it's arrival, the steward going down into the after-hold,
with a lighted candle in his hand, for the purpose of clandestinely
drawing some rum, carelessly set fire to the whole; and, notwithstanding
every effort was immediately made by Captain Lloyd, his officers, and
crew, the ship was entirely consumed. No sooner, however, did the humane
and generous commander of the Badger perceive the nature of the
disaster, than he hastened to the dreadful scene; and, by his unceasing
exertions, and astonishing presen