The Life of Horatio Lord Nelson | Page 7

in rank, Collingwood
succeeded him. The former soon became first lieutenant, and on the 8th
of December 1778 was appointed commander of the BADGER brig;
Collingwood taking his place in the BRISTOL. While the BADGER
was lying in Montego Bay, Jamaica, the GLASGOW of twenty guns
came in and anchored there, and in two hours was in flames, the
steward having set fire to her while stealing rum out of the after-hold.
Her crew were leaping into the water, when Nelson came up in his
boats, made them throw their powder overboard and point their guns
upward; and by his presence of mind and personal exertions prevented
the loss of life which would otherwise have ensued. On the 11th of
June 1779 he was made post into the HINCHINBROOK, of
twenty-eight guns, an enemy's merchantman, sheathed with wood,
which had been taken into the service. Collingwood was then made
commander into the BADGER. A short time after he left the
LOWESTOFFE, that ship, with a small squadron, stormed the fort of St.
Fernando de Omoa, on the south side of the Bay of Honduras, and
captured some register ships which were lying under its guns. Two
hundred and fifty quintals of quicksilver and three millions of piastres
were the reward of this enterprise; and it is characteristic of Nelson that
the chance by which he missed a share in such a prize is never
mentioned in any of his letters; nor is it likely that it ever excited even a

momentary feeling of vexation.
Nelson was fortunate in possessing good interest at the time when it
could be most serviceable to him: his promotion had been almost as
rapid as it could be; and before he had attained the age of twenty-one
he had gained that rank which brought all the honours of the service
within his reach. No opportunity, indeed, had yet been given him of
distinguishing himself; but he was thoroughly master of his profession,
and his zeal and ability were acknowledged wherever he was known.
Count d'Estaing, with a fleet of one hundred and twenty-five sail, men
of war and transports, and a reputed force of five-and twenty thousand
men, threatened Jamaica from St. Domingo. Nelson offered his services
to the Admiral and to Governor-General Dalling, and was appointed to
command the batteries of Fort Charles, at Port Royal. Not more than
seven thousand men could be mustered for the defence of the island,--a
number wholly inadequate to resist the force which threatened them. Of
this Nelson was so well aware, that when he wrote to his friends in
England, he told them they must not be surprised to hear of his learning
to speak French. D'Estaing, however, was either not aware of his own
superiority, or not equal to the command with which he was intrusted:
he attempted nothing with his formidable armament; and General
Dalling was thus left to execute a project which he had formed against
the Spanish colonies.
This project was, to take Fort San Juan on the river of that name, which
flows from Lake Nicaragua into the Atlantic; make himself master of
the lake itself, and of the cities of Granada and Leon; and thus cut off
the communication of the Spaniards between their northern and
southern possessions in America. Here it is that a canal between the
two seas may most easily be formed--a work more important in its
consequences than any which has ever yet been effected by human
power. Lord George Germaine, at that time secretary of state for the
American Department, approved the plan; and as discontents at that
time were known to prevail in the Nuevo Reyno, in Popayan, and in
Peru, the more sanguine part of the English began to dream of
acquiring an empire in one part of America, more extensive than that
which they were on the point of losing in another. General Dalling's

plans were well formed; but the history and the nature of the country
had not been studied as accurately as its geography: the difficulties
which occurred in fitting out the expedition delayed it till the season
was too far advanced; and the men were thus sent to adventure
themselves, not so much against an enemy, whom they would have
beaten, as against a climate which would do the enemy's work.
Early in the year 1780, five hundred men destined for this service were
convoyed by Nelson from Port Royal to Cape Gracias a Dios, in
Honduras. Not a native was to be seen when they landed: they had been
taught that the English came with no other intent than that of enslaving
them, and sending them to Jamaica. After a while, however, one of
them ventured down, confiding in his knowledge of one of the party;
and by his means the