Part II - Lord Nelson's Memoir of his Services

Summary

“On the 8th of December, 1778, I was appointed as commander of the Badger brig; and was first sent to protect the Mosquito shore, and the bay of Honduras, from the depredations of the American privateers. Whilst on this service, I gained so much the affections of the settlers, that they unanimously voted me their thanks, and expressed their regret on my leaving them; intrusting to me to describe to Sir Peter Parker and Sir John Dalling their situation, should a war with Spain break out. Whilst I commanded this brig, H. M. S. Glasgow, Captain Thomas Lloyd, came into Montego Bay, Jamaica, where the Badger was lying: in two hours afterwards she took fire by a cask of rum; and Captain Lloyd will tell you, that it was owing to my exertions, joined to his, that her whole crew were rescued from the flames.

“On the 11th of June, 1779, I was made Post into the Hinchinbrook. When, being at sea, and Count d'Estaing arriving at Hispaniola with a very large fleet and army from Martinico, an attack on Jamaica was expected. In this critical state, I was by both admiral and general intrusted with the command of the batteries at Port Royal: and I need not say, as this place was the key to the whole naval force, the town of Kingston, and Spanish Town, the defence of it was the most important post in the whole island.