possible, or in my power, have no
man near the prince who can have the smallest impeachment as to
character; for as an individual, I love him, as a prince, I
honour and revere him. My telling you this history is as to
myself; my thoughts on all subjects are open to you. We shall
certainly go to Barbadoes from this island, and when I shall see
you is not possible for me to guess, so much for marrying a
sailor. We are often separated, but I trust our affections are
not by any means on that account diminished. Our country has the
first demand for our services; and private convenience or
happiness must ever give way to the public good. Give my love to
Josiah. Heaven bless and return you safe to your most
affectionate

"Horatio Nelson."

The attachment here professed for the prince seems to have been caused
not less by the loyalty of Nelson's nature than by the real good
qualities of the sailor king. It is probable he tried to form himself
(professionally) on the model of his young commodore, and a better
original it was impossible for him to study. A certain young
lieutenant, of the name of Schomberg, conceiving that he was
injuriously treated in an order of the day, issued by his Royal
Highness on board the Pegasus, applied to Nelson for a court-martial
to enquire into the charge alleged against him. Nelson granted the
court-martial, and placed the complainant in arrest till a sufficient
number could be collected for his trial, and expressed his opinion of
such frivolous applications in the following general order:--

"By Horatio Nelson, Esquire, Captain of his Majesty's ship Boreas.

"For the better maintaining discipline and good government in the
king's squadron under my command.

"I think it necessary to inform the officers, that if any one of
them shall presume to write to the commander of the squadron
(unless there shall be ships enough present to bring them to
immediate trial) for a court-martial to investigate their
conduct, on a frivolous pretence, thereby depriving his majesty
of their services by obliging the commander of the squadron to
confine them, that I shall and do consider such conduct as a
direct breach of the 14th and part of the 19th articles of war,
and shall order them to be tried for the same.

"Given under my hand, &c.