he vessels were not entitled to British registers, had
sent marines to hold them, and to prevent essential witnesses from
leaving them, until the cases were tried. Upon these circumstances was
based an accusation of assault and imprisonment, the masters swearing
that they had made their statements under bodily fear. Writs were
issued against Nelson, damages being laid at four thousand pounds, a
sum which to him meant ruin. Although he asserted that there was
absolutely no truth in the charges, which are certainly in entire
contradiction to the general, if not invariable, tenor of his life and
conduct, he was advised by the Crown lawyers not to subject himself to
trial, as in the state of public feeling he could not expect a fair
verdict. To avoid arrest, he was forced to confine himself to the ship
for seven weeks, during which the marshal made several attempts to
serve the writ, but without success. On the day that the case of the
seized ships came up, he was able to be present in court only by the
safe conduct of the judge.

Two days after the seizure of the four vessels, Sir Richard Hughes,
who was making a tour of the station under his command, arrived at
Nevis; but he had no support to give his zealous lieutenant. "He did
not appear to be pleased with my conduct," wrote Nelson to Locker. "At
least he did not approve it, but told me I should get into a scrape.
Seven weeks I was kept a close prisoner to my ship; nor did I ever
learn that the admiral took any steps for my release. He did not even
acquaint the Admiralty Board how cruelly I had been treated; nor of
the attempts which had been made to take me out of my ship by force,
and that indignity offered under the fly of his flag." "I had the
governor, the Customs, all the planters upon me; subscriptions were
soon filled to prosecute; and my admiral stood neuter, although his
flag was then in the roads." To this lack of countenance on the part
of his superior, and direct persecution by those injuriously affected
by his action, there was added a general social ostracism, to which he
frequently alludes, and which was particularly emphasized by its
contrast with the habits of hospitality prevalent among the small and
wealthy planter community. One friend, however, stood by him, and
offered to become his bail in the sum of ten thousand pounds,--Mr.
Herbert, the President of Nevis, and one of the wealthiest men in the
island. He had, Nelson said, suffered more than any