, he soon "trimmed
up, and silenced;" but it was a more delicate business to deal with the
admiral: "I must either," said he, "disobey my orders, or disobey Acts
of Parliament. I determined upon the former, trusting to the uprightness
of my intentions, and believing that my country would not let me be
ruined for protecting her commerce." With this determination he wrote to
Sir Richard; appealed again to the plain, literal, unequivocal sense of
the Navigation Act; and in respectful language told him, he felt it
his duty to decline obeying these orders till he had an opportunity of
seeing and conversing with him. Sir Richard's first feeling was that of
anger, and he was about to supersede Nelson; but having mentioned
the affair to his captain, that officer told him he believed all the
squadron thought the orders illegal, and therefore did not know how far
they were bound to obey them. It was impossible, therefore, to bring
Nelson to a court-martial, composed of men who agreed with him in
opinion upon the point in dispute; and luckily, though the admiral
wanted vigour of mind to decide upon what was right, he was not
obstinate in wrong, and had even generosity enough in his nature to
thank Nelson afterwards for having shown him his error.

Collingwood in the MEDIATOR, and his brother, Wilfred Collingwood, in
the RATTLER, actively co-operated with Nelson. The custom-houses were
informed that after a certain day all foreign vessels found in the ports
would be seized; and many were, in consequence, seized, and condemned
in the Admiralty Court. When the BOREAS arrived at Nevis, she found four
American vessels deeply laden, and what are called the island colours
flying--white, with a red cross. They were ordered to hoist their proper
flag, and depart within 48 hours; but they refused to obey, denying that
they were Americans. Some of their crews were then examined in Nelson's
cabin, where the Judge of Admiralty happened to be present. The case was
plain; they confessed that they were Americans, and that the ships, hull
and cargo, were wholly American property; upon which he seized them.
This raised a storm: the planters, the custom-house, and the governor,
were all against him. Subscriptions were opened, and presently filled,
for the purpose of carrying on the cause in behalf of the American
captains; and the admiral, whose flag was at that time in the roads,
stood neutral. But the Americans and their abettors were not content