give, on no less authority than that of the Earl of
St. Vincent himself.

His lordship, while Sir John Jervis, was returning from the House of
Commons, of which he was then a member; when, in the Treasury Passage,
he perceived Captain Locker at a distance, whom he instantly knew, from
the singularity of his looking through an eye-glass fitted at the head
of his cane. Sir John immediately hailed his old friend: and Captain
Locker, coming up, expressed his happiness at seeing Sir John Jervis; as
he wished, he said, to introduce his _eleve_, Captain Nelson.

From that period, till the time when Sir John Jervis took the command of
the Mediterranean fleet, he had never again beheld Captain Nelson; who,
having served much with Lord Hood, and not knowing Sir John Jervis's
generous intentions to bring him still more forward, expressed a wish to
return to England in the Agamemnon. That ship, indeed, from it's then
bad state, was expected to be soon sent home: but Sir John Jervis seems
to have felt more unwilling to part with Captain Nelson than his ship.

On the death of Lord Hervey, the captain of the Zealous, which happened
soon after, Sir John Jervis immediately offered Captain Nelson the
command of that ship; which he declined, still persisting in his desire
to go home.

It was not long, however, before he became sufficiently sensible of Sir
John's great attachment to him, and now readily expressed the desire
which he felt to remain under his command. They were, thus, mutually
pleased with each other; and there resulted, from the harmony which
continued to prevail between these two truly great and heroic
characters, the utmost possible advantage to their country, and the most
complete glory to themselves.

On the 23d of February 1796, Captain Nelson, after looking into Toulon,
where there were then thirteen sail of the line and five frigates ready
for sea, left the commander in chief to the westward of Toulon, and
proceeded to Genoa.

In April, so highly did Sir John Jervis approve of Captain Nelson's
conduct, that he promoted him to the rank of temporary commodore, with
directions to wear a distinguishing pendant, which was accordingly
hoisted on board the old Agamemnon.

In May, orders having arrived for a third rate, the worst ship then in
the line, to return home with the convoy, there could be no doubt that
the Agamemnon must be the ship: and John Samuel Smith, Esq. the
commander of the Captain of seventy-four g