at many of the inhabitants were as arrant rebels as
those who had renounced their allegiance. Under these conditions, when
peace was restored, the old relations were readily resumed; and as
there had really been considerable inconvenience and loss to the
islanders from the deprivation of American products, the renewal was
eagerly promoted by popular sentiment. The local authorities, as
usual and natural, yielded to the pressure around them, and in entire
disregard of the known policy of the home government permitted
American vessels to trade openly under their own colors. In Jamaica
the governor had even gone so far as to authorize formally a free
trade, during pleasure, with the United States, contrary to the
explicit orders of his superiors in Great Britain. Where scruples were
felt or hesitation was shown, advantage was taken of the exceptions of
the law, which allowed vessels in distress to sell so much of their
cargoes as would pay for necessary repairs. With the tendency of
commerce to evade restrictions by liberal stretching of the
conscience, the merchant captain and the colonial officer found little
difficulty in arranging that the damage should be great enough to
cover the sale of the whole lading.

After laying up in Antigua during the hurricane season of 1784, Nelson
was summoned to Barbadoes in November, with the other captains, to
receive orders for the winter's cruising. These, when issued, were
found to direct only the examination of anchorages, and the gathering
of information about supplies of wood and water. Nelson's attention
had been drawn already to the American traffic; and he, with his
friend Collingwood, who was again on the station, went to the admiral,
and urged that it was the duty of ships of war to enforce the
Navigation Laws. The admiral professed ignorance of these; and Nelson
himself remarks that British vessels up to that time had been so much
cheaper built than others, that they had, without artificial
protection, naturally absorbed their own colonial trade,--the
question, therefore, had dropped out of sight till it was revived by
American competition. A copy of the Act being then produced, Hughes
gave an order requiring his vessels to enforce it; making special
mention of the changed relations of the United States to Great
Britain, whereby they were "to be considered as foreigners, and
excluded from all commerce with the islands in these seas."

With these instructions Nelson sailed