nter into the history of Nelson's conduct
in defence of the Navigation Act, further than as the correspondence
on the subject brings out some of his peculiarities; and the result
shows, as usual, the policy of firmness, and the certainty of success
to those who are determined to obtain it.

The Americans, after the recognition of their independence, were by no
means willing to surrender some of the advantages they had enjoyed
when colonists of Great Britain. Among these was an unrestricted trade
with the West Indies. In order to retain this advantage, they stuck at
nothing in the way of oaths and declarations; and, as the American
trade was of great consequence to the islanders, their false pretences
were in all cases supported by the merchants, and even the
custom-house authorities were persuaded to encourage the frauds. A
captain of the navy, twenty-six years of age, undertook to put an end
to these operations; and, in the course of a very short time, he found
himself in as hot water as any gentleman can require.

To William Locker, Esq.
"Boreas, Baseterre Road,
_January 15, 1785_.

"The longer I am upon this station the worse I like it. Our
commander has not that opinion of his own sense that he ought to
have. He is led by the advice of the islanders to admit the
Yankees to a trade--at least, to wink at it. He does not give
himself that weight that I think an English admiral ought to do.
I, for one, am determined not to suffer the Yankees to come where
my ship is; for I am sure, if once the Americans are admitted to
any kind of intercourse with these islands, the views of the
Loyalists in settling in Nova Scotia are entirely done away. They
will first become the carriers, and next have possession of our
islands, are we ever again embroiled in a French war. The
residents of these islands are Americans by connexion and by
interest, and are inimical to Great Britain. They are as great
rebels as ever were in America, had they the power to show it.
After what I have said, you will believe I am not very popular
with the people. They have never visited me, and I have not had a
foot in any house since I have been on the station, and all for
doing my duty by being _true to the interests of Great Britain_.
A petition from the President and Council has gone to the
Gove