ship he sailed on the 26th of June, and having escorted the allied
sovereigns to the continent, struck his flag, and came on shore.[2]

His royal highness' service at sea may, therefore, be stated as
follows:--6 years as midshipman; 11 months as lieutenant; 3 years and
10 months as post captain; and 7 weeks as admiral of the fleet: making
a total service at sea of about 10 years and 9 months.[3]

The intimacy of the prince with the gallant Nelson is well known as
one of the most interesting incidents of the duke's life. They first
met at Quebec in 1782, when Nelson was in the Albemarle off that
station, and whence he was ordered to convoy a fleet of transports
to New York. From this time they became much attached, and their
separation was the cause of mutual regret. At the close of the war
they met again, both being appointed to the Leeward island station.
Nelson soon had an opportunity of witnessing the prince's resolute
obedience to orders, amidst great personal danger, and strong
temptations to avarice, the circumstances of which are briefly
as follow:--The law excluded all foreign vessels from trade and
intercourse with our West India islands; and America, being now
independent, and as much a foreign nation as any other, Nelson,
the senior captain on the station, ordered all American vessels to
quit the islands within forty-eight hours, on pain of seizure, and
prosecution of their owners. Four vessels at Nevis remained, which
he ordered to be searched, and on being found American, they were
adjudged legal prizes. This proceeding placed Nelson in considerable
difficulty, but he ultimately triumphed; and though the thanks of
government for protecting its commerce were given to the admiral of
the station, who had in fact opposed the measure, Nelson was conscious
of having done his duty, and enjoyed the approbation of such as were