Shortly after the Lowestoffe's arrival at Jamaica, a circumstance took
place, during a cruize off the island, which affords a striking proof of
that inherent firmness of character, and cool presence of mind, for
which this heroic youth was always remarkable.

In a strong gale of wind, and a heavy sea, an American letter of marque
was discovered by Captain Locker; which, after a short chace, finding it
could not escape, struck it's flag to the Lowestoffe. The captain,
accordingly, ordered his first-lieutenant to board and take possession
of the captured vessel; but, owing to the tremendous sea which was then
running, he found himself unable, though a very brave man, to approach
sufficiently near, with the boat, to get on board the prize, and had the
extreme mortification of being obliged to go back without effecting his
purpose. On his return to the Lowestoffe, Captain Locker, who was not a
little chagrined at the disappointment, hastily exclaimed--"Have I,
then, no officer who can board the prize?" The master, at hearing these
words, instantly ran to the gangway, that he might jump into the boat;
but the intrepid second-lieutenant, who had been full as attentive and
alert as himself, suddenly stopped him--"It is my turn, now," cried
young Nelson; "if I come back, too, it will be your's." He then leaped
into the boat; and, from his superior expertness in managing it, soon
contrived to get on board, and take possession of his first prize.

This, though no real disgrace to the first-lieutenant, was certainly a
very high honour to such a strippling as the second; who owed his
success, on the present occasion, as he did at many future periods, to
the practical knowledge of seamanship which he had always, from his
first entering on the service, been sagaciously solicitous to acquire.
He seems to have been early of opinion, that a commander who is not
capable of being a master, in every sense of the word, must always,