iralty,
fortunately, have approved my conduct in the business; a thing they are
not very guilty of, where there is a likelihood of a scrape. And
yesterday, to complete me, I was riding a _blackguard_ horse, that ran
away with me at Common; carried me round all the works, into Portsmouth,
by the London gates; through the town; out at the gate that leads to
Common, where there was a waggon in the road, which is so very narrow
that a horse could barely pass. To save my legs, and perhaps my life, I
was obliged to throw myself from the horse; which I did, with great
agility: but, unluckily, upon hard stones; which has hurt my back, and
my legs, but done no other mischief. It was a thousand to one, that I
had not been killed. To crown all, a young girl was with me: her horse
ran away, as well as mine; but, most fortunately, a gallant young man
seized the horse's bridle a moment before I dismounted, and saved her
from the destruction she could not have avoided."

This was, certainly, a most wonderful escape, though it is related with
a vein of humour which takes off all apprehension from the reader; to
whom it must, undoubtedly, appear little less whimsical and facetious
than John Gilpin's celebrated race: while, to balance the advantage of
Cowper's admirable fiction, it has the boast of Nelson's unimpeachable
truth.

The Boreas, being fully equipped for the Leeward Islands, as a cruizer
on the peace establishment, Captain Nelson sailed from Spithead about
the middle of May 1784; carrying out Lady Hughes and her family, to
Admiral Sir Richard Hughes, who commanded in chief on that station.

They arrived at Madeira, after a pleasant passage, on the 1st of June;
and, on the 8th, proceeded to the place of destination, which they
safely reached just before the hurricane season. The ladies expressed
themselves well satisfied with their accommodation on board, which had
certainly cost the captain nearly two hundred pounds extraordinary; for
which Lady Hughes is stated, from most respectable authority, to have
demonstrated her gratitude, by presenting him with a silver tea-caddy
ladle, which could hardly be worth more than five shillings!

The service, on this station, was attended with difficulties which had,
perhaps, been but little expected, either by the officers of the British
navy, or those who sent them; and it was far more fortunate for
government, than it was for Captain Nelson, that he had been employed on
the occasion.