ALBEMARLE.

The self-constraint which Nelson exerted in subduing this attachment
made him naturally desire to be at sea; and when, upon visiting Lord
Howe at the Admiralty, he was asked if he wished to be employed, he
made answer that he did. Accordingly in March, he was appointed to the
BOREAS, twenty-eight guns, going to the Leeward Islands as a cruiser on
the peace establishment. Lady Hughes and her family went out with him to
Admiral Sir Richard Hughes, who commanded on that station. His ship was
full of young midshipmen, of whom there were not less than thirty on
board; and happy were they whose lot it was to be placed with such a
captain. If he perceived that a boy was afraid at first going aloft, he
would say to him in a friendly manner, "Well, sir, I am going a race
to the mast-head, and beg that I may meet you there." The poor little
fellow instantly began to climb, and got up how he could,--Nelson never
noticed in what manner, but when they met in the top, spoke cheerfully
to him, and would say how much any person was to be pitied who fancied
that getting up was either dangerous or difficult. Every day he went
into the school-room to see that they were pursuing their nautical
studies; and at noon he was always the first on deck with his quadrant.
Whenever he paid a visit of ceremony, some of these youths accompanied
him; and when he went to dine with the governor at Barbadoes, he took
one of them in his hand, and presented him, saying, "Your Excellency
must excuse me for bringing one of my midshipmen. I make it a rule to
introduce them to all the good company I can, as they have few to look
up to, besides myself, during the time they are at sea."

When Nelson arrived in the West Indies, he found himself senior captain,
and consequently second in command on that station. Satisfactory as this
was, it soon involved him in a dispute with the admiral, which a man