said the young officer, with that confidence in himself which never
carried him too far, and always was equal to the occasion, "I am as
old as the prime minister of England, and I think myself as capable of
commanding one of his Majesty's ships as that minister is of governing
the state." He was resolved to do his duty, whatever might be the
opinion or conduct of others; and when he arrived upon his station at
St. Kitt's, he sent away all the Americans, not choosing to seize them
before they had been well apprised that the Act would be carried into
effect, lest it might seem as if a trap had been laid for them.
The Americans, though they prudently decamped from St. Kitt's, were
emboldened by the support they met with, and resolved to resist his
orders, alleging that king's ships had no legal power to seize them
without having deputations from the customs. The planters were to a man
against him; the governors and the presidents of the different islands,
with only a single exception, gave him no support; and the admiral,
afraid to act on either side, yet wishing to oblige the planters, sent
him a note, advising him to be guided by the wishes of the president
of the council. There was no danger in disregarding this, as it came
unofficially, and in the form of advice. But scarcely a month after he
had shown Sir Richard Hughes the law, and, as he supposed, satisfied him
concerning it, he received an order from him, stating that he had now
obtained good advice upon the point, and the Americans were not to
be hindered from coming, and having free egress and regress, if the
governor chose to permit them. An order to the same purport had been
sent round to the different governors and presidents; and General
Shirley and others informed him, in an authoritative manner, that they
chose to admit American ships, as the commander-in-chief had left the
decision to them. These persons, in his own words, 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