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the life of horatio lord nelson-第9章

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r were in America; had they the power to show it。〃 In November; when the squadron; having arrived at Barbadoes; was to separate; with no other orders than those for examining anchorages; and the usual inquiries concerning wood and water; Nelson asked his friend Collingwood; then captain of the MEDIATOR; whose opinions he knew upon the subject; to accompany him to the commander…in…chief; whom he then respectfully asked; whether they were not to attend to the commerce of the country; and see that the Navigation Act was respectedthat appearing to him to be the intent of keeping men…of…war upon this station in time of peace? Sir Richard Hughes replied; he had no particular orders; neither had the Admiralty sent him any Acts of Parliament。 But Nelson made answer; that the Navigation Act was included in the statutes of the Admiralty; with which every captain was furnished; and that Act was directed to admirals; captains; &c。; to see it carried into execution。 Sir Richard said he had never seen the book。 Upon this Nelson produced the statutes; read the words of the Act; and apparently convinced the commander…in…chief; that men…of…war; as he said; 〃were sent abroad for some other purpose than to be made a show of。〃 Accordingly orders were given to enforce the Navigation Act。

Major…General Sir Thomas Shirley was at this time governor of the Leeward Islands; and when Nelson waited on him; to inform him how he intended to act; and upon what grounds; he replied; that 〃old generals were not in the habit of taking advice from young gentlemen。〃 〃Sir;〃 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 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 flyingwhite; 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 with defensive law。 The marines; whom he had sent to secure the ships; had prevented some of the masters from going ashore; and those persons; by whose depositions it appeared that the vessels and cargoes were American property; declared that they had given their testimony under bodily fear; for that a man with a drawn sword in his hand had stood over them the whole time。 A rascally lawyer; whom the party employed; suggested this story; and as the sentry at the cabin door was a man with a drawn sword; the Americans made no scruple of swearing to this ridiculous falsehood; and commencing prosecutions against him accordingly。 They laid their damages at the enormous amount of L40;000; and Nelson was obliged to keep close on board his own ship; lest he should be arrested for a sum for which it would have been impossible to find bail。 The marshal frequently came on board to arrest him; but was always prevented by the address of the first lieutenant; Mr。 Wallis。 Had he been taken; such was the temper of the people that it was certain he would have been cast for the whole sum。 One of his officers; one day; in speaking of the restraint which he was thus compelled to suffer; happened to use the word PITY! 〃Pity!〃 exclaimed Nelson: 〃Pity! did you say? I shall live; sir; to be envied! and to that point I shall a
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