disinterested witnesses of it. Among these was Prince William, who
thus notices Nelson's conduct on this occasion in a letter to a
friend: "It was at this era," says the prince, "that I particularly
observed the greatness of Nelson's superior mind. The manner in which
he enforced the spirit of the Navigation Act first drew my attention
to the commercial interests of my country. We visited different
islands together; and as much as the manoeuvres of fleets can be
described off the headlands of islands, we fought over again the
principal naval actions in the American war. Excepting the naval
tuition which I had received on board the Prince George, when the
present Rear Admiral Keats was lieutenant of her, and for whom we both
entertained a sincere regard, my mind took its first decided naval
turn from this familiar intercourse with Nelson."

It is also worthy of remark, that while the prince spoke thus highly
of Nelson, the latter estimated his royal highness in correspondent
terms. In a letter to Captain Locker, about the same period, Nelson
says, "You must have heard, long before this reaches you, that Prince
William is under my command. I shall endeavour to take care that he
is not a loser by that circumstance. He has his foibles as well as
private men, but they are far overbalanced by his virtues. In his
professional line he is superior to near two-thirds I am sure of
the list; and in attention to orders, and respect to his superior
officers, I hardly know his equal. His royal highness keeps up strict
discipline in his ship, and without paying him any compliment, she
is one of the finest ordered vessels I have seen." These opinions,
it should be recollected, are quoted from private correspondence--a
circumstance which adds materially to their value.

On July 11, 1818, his royal highness was married at Kew to her serene