Nelson's services were not limited to those which have been now mentioned. He was alive to the extortion and nefarious proceedings of contractors and prize agents, and other persons connected with naval affairs in the West Indies. He resolutely opposed their scandalous practices. His representations to the Comptroller were received in a lukewarm manner, his suggestions were disregarded, the old forms of proceeding were considered sufficient, and he was under the necessity of submitting, when he received information from two Antigua merchants, Messrs. Higgins and Wilkinson, of great frauds having been committed upon the Government in various departments, amounting altogether to upwards of one million sterling. He examined into these charges, and transmitted an account of them home; but the peculators were too powerful for him, and he raised a feeling against him at the Admiralty, which he found it so difficult to subdue, that he was near quitting the service in disgust. The state of his health was also very precarious, often seriously deranged, and he was unwell when he arrived in England, in June; but his ship was not paid off at Sheerness till November, being kept at the Nore during that time as a slop and receiving ship for impressed seamen. He was indignant at such treatment, and kept himself almost entirely on board. Nelson had resolved to wait upon the First Lord of the Admiralty, and resign his commission; but having communicated his intentions to an officer in his confidence, he most judiciously apprized Lord Howe of his design, who anticipated his visit by expressing a desire to see him as soon as he arrived in London, and upon conversing with him on all that had occurred, requested to present him to the King at the first levee. Thus was his resentment allayed, and the services of Nelson retained to his country. Now on shore, and in immediate communication with the Admiralty, Nelson renewed his attack upon the peculators, and proved all his charges to Mr. Rose, Mr. Pitt, and Sir Charles Middleton.3 Investigation was instituted-the 1 1 Afterwards Rt. Hon. Sir George Rose, G.C.H., Secretary to the Treasury. 2 First Lord of the Treasury. 3 Comptroller of the Navy, afterwards an Admiral, made First Lord of the Admiralty, and in 1805 created Lord Barham. He died June 17, 1831. culprits were detected and punished-Nelson's suggestions were attended to-his recommendations adopted, and an immense saving to Government effected; but the author of all this good was unattended to-no reward, no honours were bestowed upon him for his exertions, or as a repayment for the anxieties and sufferings he had experienced. He always, however, maintained that it was "better to serve an ungrateful country than to give up his own fame." CHAPTER II. 1787-1794. WITH all his devotion to the Navy, and a strict regard to the duties of his profession, embracing a consideration of them in every particular, and an enforcement of the correct performance of that which belonged to every branch of the service, Nelson proved susceptible to the tender passion. At an early period we learn, that when in Quebec, his friend, Mr. Alexander Davison,1 in 1782, prevented him from forming an imprudent connexion, exercised a friendly violence, and safely lodged him in his boat. At St. Omer, in 1784, he fell in love with the daughter of an English clergyman, and carried his passion so far as to solicit pecuniary assistance from his uncle, Wm. Suckling, Esq., to enable him to marry. His letter on the occasion is curious, and has been printed in the Gentleman's Magazine :— 2 66 January 14th, 1784. My dear Uncle, "There arrives, in general, a time in a man's life (who has friends), that either they place him in life in a situation, that makes his application for anything further totally unnecessary; or give him help in a pecuniary way, if they can afford, and he deserves it. "The critical moment of my life is now arrived, that either I am to be happy or miserable :-it depends solely on you. "You may possibly think I am going to ask too much. I have fed myself up with hopes you will not-till this trying moment. There is a lady I have seen, of a good family and connexions, but with a small fortune-£1000. I understand. 1 Nelson's intimacy with Mr. Davison commenced at Quebec about this time, and their attachment continued through life. He was appointed Prize Agent for the Battle of the Nile, and was otherwise concerned in the affairs of the Admiral, as will be seen by many of the letters subsequently printed. 2 Vol. xcv. part 1. p. 196. The whole of my income does not exceed £130. per annum. Now I must come to the point :-will you, if I should marry, allow me yearly £100., until my income is increased to that sum, either by employment, or any other way? A very few years, I hope, would turn something up, if my friends will but exert themselves. If you will not give me the above sum, will you exert yourself with either Lord North or Mr. Jenkinson, to get me a guard-ship, or some employment in a public office where the attendance of the principal is not necessary, and of which they must have such numbers to dispose of. In the India service, I understand (if it remains under the Directors), their marine force is to be under the command of a Captain in the Royal Navy: that is a station I should like. "You must excuse the freedom with which this letter is dictated; not to have been plain and explicit in my distress would have been cruel to myself. If nothing can be done for me, I know what I have to trust to. Life is not worth preserving without happiness; and I care not where I may linger out a miserable existence. I am prepared to hear your refusal, and have fixed my resolution if that should happen; but in every station, I shall be a well-wisher to you and your family, and pray they or you may never know the pangs which at this instant tear my heart. God bless you; and assure yourself I am "Your most affectionate and dutiful nephew, "HORATIO NELSON." Mr. Suckling is stated, in the Gentleman's Magazine, to have immediately complied with his nephew's request; but as no marriage took place, Nelson was probably rejected by the object of his affections. He liked the society of females, and seems to have been grateful to any who were attentive to him, or could participate with him in his attachment to his country, and in his love of glory. Mrs. Moutray, the wife of the Commissioner at Antigua, appears to have interested him greatly; he depicts in a very striking manner the pleasure he felt in her society, and laments the loss he sustained by her departure from the West Indies. Writing to his friend, Captain Locker, Sept. 24, 1784, he says: "Was it not for Mrs. Moutray, who is very very good to me, I should almost hang myself at this infernal hole. Our Admiral is tolerable, but I do not like him; he bows and scrapes too much for me; his wife has an eternal clack, so that I go near them as little as possible: in short, I detest this country; but as I am embarked upon this station, I shall remain in my ship." Again, to his brother, Feb. 20, 1785: "My dear, sweet friend is going home. I am really an April day: happy on her account, but truly grieved were I only to consider myself. Her equal I never saw in any country, or in any situation. She always talks of you, and hopes, if she comes within your reach, you will not fail visiting her. If my dear Kate' goes to Bath next winter, she will be known to her; for my dear friend has promised to make herself known. What an acquisition to any female to be acquainted with: what an example to take pattern from!" On March 16th he continues: "My sweet, amiable friend sails the 20th for England. I took my leave of her with a heavy heart three days ago. What a treasure of a woman! God bless her!" And May 3rd, 1785, to the same: "The country appears now intolerable, my dear friend being absent. It is barren indeed; not all the Rosys can give a spark of joy to me. English Harbour I hate the sight of, and Windsor I detest. I went once up the hill to look at the spot where I spent more happy days than in any one spot in the world. Even the trees drooped their heads, and the tamarind tree died :all was melancholy: the road is covered with thistles; let them grow. I shall never pull one of them up. By this time I hope she is safe in old England. Heaven's choicest blessing go with her." 1 Nelson's youngest sister, born March 19, 1767. In 1787 she married George Matcham, Esq. of Ashford Lodge, by whom she had several children. She died March 28, 1842. 2 Mrs. Moutray excited no less gratitude in the breast of Collingwood, to whom, as well as Nelson, she appears to have exercised the greatest kindness. The former made his acknowledgments in the following verse: To you belongs the wond'rous art To shed around you pleasure; And make of trifles-treasure. A letter from this charming lady, at the age of 84, glowing with rich reminis |