register-ships, in the Bay of Dulce. The British squadron, under the
Honourable Captain John Luttrell, found that these register-ships had
taken shelter under the strong fortress of St. Fernando de Omoa, which
is situated on the south side of the Bay of Honduras, and on the Gulph
of Dulce: but, fortunately falling in with the Porcupine sloop, Captain
Pakenham, which had a short time before been sent to co-operate with a
small detachment of troops under the command of Captain Dalrymple,
dispatched by the Governor of Jamaica, to drive away the Spaniards from
infesting the baymen on the Musquito and Bay of Honduras shores, which
service they had completely effected, it was judiciously agreed, between
the naval and military commanders, to unite their forces, and proceed
immediately to the attack of Fort Omoa, Accordingly, on the 16th of
October, they stormed and carried the fort: taking, and carrying away,
the register-ships, on board of which were about three millions of
piastres; as well as two hundred and fifty quintals of quicksilver,
found on shore in the fortress. From the advantages of participating in
this brilliant enterprise, Captain Locker had been thus deprived by want
of health; and his second lieutenant, singular as it may seem, by an
excess of patronage.

While these transactions were taking place, however, Captain Nelson had,
on the 11th of June 1779, obtained his post-rank, through the same
generous influence as withdrew him from the now fortunate Lowestoffe. He
had, therefore, neither reason nor inclination to complain, for he had
not yet completed his twenty-first year. In the bloom and vigour of
youth, with an age of experience in the service, acquired within nine
years, he was well qualified for the situation to which he had been thus
liberally promoted.

The possession of Fort Omoa continued little more than a month. A