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The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, Volume 1 (of 2) by James Harrison
page 60 of 343 (17%)
appeared to him of little or no consequence, for even the treasure of
the castle had been removed before it's surrender, he was sinking fast
to the grave; with scarcely a hope, or even a wish, to survive the brave
fellows who were every day falling around him.

While he lay in this deplorable state, the reinforcement of troops which
had immediately been sent from Jamaica, on the first news of the
surrender of Fort Juan, brought intelligence that Captain Bonnovier
Glover, the commander of the Janus of forty-four guns, died on the 21st
of March, and that Sir Peter Parker had appointed Captain Nelson to
succeed him. This kind promotion, he has been often heard to say,
certainly saved his life. He immediately sailed to Jamaica, on board
the Victor sloop, that he might take possession of the Janus; and hope,
that never entirely abandoned him, began again to invigorate his heart.
His spirits, however, were always beyond his strength; though that, when
in full health, was by no means feeble, as his country's enemies had
many subsequent opportunities to experience.

The air of Jamaica, though far less unwholesome than that which he had
just quitted on the Spanish main, is not very invigorating to European
constitutions; and, instead of it's restoring him, he every day grew
worse and worse. Sir Peter Parker, therefore, kindly invited him to make
a home of his penn, which is the name of a West Indian villa; where he
received the most friendly attentions from Lady Parker, and the
skilfullest medicinal aids. All, however, proved ineffectual. His
extreme anxiety to get on board the ship to which he had been so
honourably appointed, tended now to augment his indisposition; and he
was reluctantly compelled, like his worthy friend, Captain Locker, to
depart for England. This, too, unwilling to resign his ship, he
positively declared, till the last, he never would do, while a single
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