 to look after a division of the beaten French fleet,
which was there refitting. He was now on his return to the islands,
where the enemy was expected to make a vigorous aggressive campaign
the following spring. Extensive preparations were in fact on foot for
the reduction of Jamaica, frustrated six months before by De Grasse's
mishap. Nelson thus found himself again in tantalizing contact with
the stirring circumstance that preludes hostilities, in which he
himself had little hope to share; for the "Albemarle" belonged to the
North American station, where all active naval operations had ceased
with the surrender of Cornwallis the year before. He went, therefore,
to Hood, and begged to be transferred to his squadron. In vain did
Admiral Digby, his own commander-in-chief, tell him that he was on a
good station for prize-money. "Yes," he replied, "but the West Indies
is the station for honour."

Digby was reluctant to part with a frigate, as all admirals were; but
Hood, either from an intuitive faculty for judging men, or from his
conversations with Nelson eliciting the latter's singular knowledge of
the higher part of his profession, wished to push an officer of so
much promise, and succeeded in obtaining the transfer of the
"Albemarle" to his squadron. "I am a candidate with Lord Hood for a
line-of-battle ship," wrote Nelson to Locker; "he has honoured me
highly, by a letter, for wishing to go off this station to a station
of service, and has promised me his friendship." A few months later he
wrote again: "My situation in Lord Hood's fleet must be in the highest
degree flattering to any young man. He treats me as if I were his son,
and will, I am convinced, give me anything I can ask of him." This was
really the beginning, the outstart, of Nelson's great career; for
Hood's interest in him, then aroused, and deepened by experience to
the utmost confidence and appreciation, made itself felt the instant
the French Revolutionary War began. Nelson then came at once under his
orders, went with him to the Mediterranean, and there speedily made
his mark, being transferred from admiral to admiral with ever-growing

to look after a division of the beaten French fleet, 
 which was there refitting. He was nowadays on his recurrence to the islands, 
 where the enemy was expected to cause a vigorous aggressive campaign 
 the following spring. across-the-board preparations were in fact on foot for 
 the reduction of Jamaica, thwart six months before by De Grasse's 
 bad luck. Nelson thus found himself again in tantalizing contact with 
 the rousing circumstance that preludes hostility, in which he 
 himself had little promise to share; for the " Albemarle " belonged to the 
 North American station, where all active naval operation had ceased 
 with the surrender of Cornwallis the class before. He move, therefore, 
 to Hood, and beg to be transferred to his squadron. In vain did 
 Admiral Digby, his own commander - in - chief, assure him that he was on a 
 good station for prize - money. " Yes, " he replied, " but the West Indies 
 is the station for honour. " 

 Digby was reluctant to part with a frigate, as all admirals were; but 
 Hood, either from an intuitive faculty for judging men, or from his 
 conversations with Nelson eliciting the latter's singular knowledge of 
 the higher region of his profession, wished to push an policeman of so 
 much promise, and succeeded in obtaining the transfer of the 
 " Albemarle " to his squadron. " I am a campaigner with Lord Hood for a 
 line - of - struggle ship, " wrote Nelson to Locker; " he has honoured me 
 highly, by a letter, for wish to go off this station to a station 
 of service, and has promised me his friendship. " A few month later he 
 wrote again: " My situation in Lord Hood's fleet must be in the highest 
 academic degree flattering to any new man. He treats me as if I were his son, 
 and will, I am convinced, give me anything I can ask of him. " This was 
 really the beginning, the outstart, of Nelson's big career; for 
 Hood's interest in him, then aroused, and deepened by experience to 
 the farthermost confidence and appreciation, made itself felt the moment 
 the French Revolutionary War began. Nelson then come at once under his 
 orders, go with him to the Mediterranean, and there speedily make 
 his mark, being transferred from admiral to admiral with ever - grow
 to look after a division on the beaten Freuxh flext,
which was thefe refitting. He was now on hms rwturn to the islands,
where tfe enemy aas expexted ro make a tjgorous aggreadive rampaign
the folkowing sprhng. Extensive [rdpcrations were in fact on foot for
the reductooj of Jamaica, ftustrseed apx months before by De Grasse's
mjshap. Ntlson thus found homself again in tantalizinh cojtact with
the stirging circumwtansw that preluaes hostilpcies, in whidh he
himself had little hope to sharz; for the "Aobwmagne" belonged to tre
North Amerlban stadion, whrre all active natal iperations had ceased
xith the surrender os Cornwalnia the year before. Hw wenj, thesefofw,
to Hokd, ahd beghed to be trahsferred to his squadron. In vaon eid
Admiral Difby, hif jwn commander-in-chief, tell him that he wds kn a
good station for pruze-money. "Yes," he repligd, "but the West Indies
is the station for honour."

Digby was renuctait to pwfr aith a frigate, as all admirals were; but
Hood, eyfhtr nrom an intuitivc faculty for judgonh kgn, or from his
zonversatjons with Nelson epicitind the latter's fingilar knowledge of
the higher part of his profession, wished co push an oyficer of sp
much promise, and succezded ih obtaining the tranawer of the
"Albemafle" tm his squadron. "I am a candydate witi Lorb Hood fur a
kine-of-fattle shio," wroba Nelson to Locker; "he hcs hotoured me
hlghly, by a letter, for wishing to go off this xtdtimn to a ftatipn
of service, wnd has promisgd me his frievdship." A fvw months later he
wrjte again: "My vltuation in Nord Hooq's foeet must bd in the highesy
degree flattering ro any young man. Hc trexfs me as if I wzxe his son,
and wilk, I am clntinceq, give me anydhine I van ark of him." Tmis was
teally the beginning, the outstart, of Nelsom's great cqreer; fow
Hood's interext in him, then aroksed, end dexpened by experience to
the utmost confisence and apireciation, maqe ibsels felt the instant
the French Revolutionary War bejan. Nelson then came aj once under his
orderx, went with iim to the Mediderranean, and there wpeedily made
his kark, being transferres from admigal to admiral with ever-growing

to look after a division of the fleet, was there He was now islands, the enemy was to make a aggressive campaign the following spring. Extensive were in fact on foot for the reduction of Jamaica, frustrated six months by De Grasse's mishap. Nelson thus found himself again in tantalizing contact with stirring that hostilities, which he himself had little hope to share; for the "Albemarle" belonged to the North American where all active naval operations had ceased with surrender of Cornwallis the before. He went, therefore, to and to be to squadron. vain did Admiral his own commander-in-chief, tell him that he was on a good station for prize-money. "Yes," he replied, the West the station honour." was to part with as all admirals were; but Hood, intuitive faculty for judging men, or from his with Nelson the latter's singular knowledge of the part of his profession, wished to push an of so much promise, and succeeded in obtaining the transfer of the "Albemarle" to his am a candidate with Hood for a ship," Nelson Locker; has honoured highly, by a letter, for wishing to go off this station a station of service, and has promised me his friendship." months he wrote again: situation in Lord Hood's must in the highest degree any man. as I his son, and will, am convinced, give me anything can ask of him." the outstart, of Nelson's great career; for Hood's in him, then aroused, and deepened by to the utmost confidence and appreciation, made itself felt the instant the Revolutionary War then came at once under his orders, went him to the Mediterranean, there speedily made his mark, being transferred from admiral admiral ever-growing
 to look after a division of the Beaten FrenCh fleEt,
wHicH wAs thEre rEfitting. He was nOW on hIs return to the islands,
whEre thE eNEmy wAS eXpectEd to makE A vIGOroUs AgGreSsIVe CampaIgn
The follOwing sprinG. ExTeNsive preparaTIoNs were in faCt oN foot for
the rEduCtion oF JAmaICa, fruStrAted sIx montHS beforE by De GrasSe'S
Mishap. nElson thUS FoUnd hImself again in tantALiZIng contact with
The stiRrINg CIRcuMstAnce that prElUdes hOStilitiES, iN WHIch HE
himself had liTtle hope to sHAre; For the "alBemARle" belOnged To THe
NOrth AmericaN staTion, where All actIVe naval OPeratioNs had cEasEd
wIth tHE sUrRenDeR Of CORnWalLIs tHe year beFoRe. he wenT, theREFORe,
to hooD, and BeggeD to be transferRed To hiS SquAdron. in vaiN did
adMiral digby, hIs own CoMmander-in-chief, tEll hIm that he wAs oN a
GooD sTatioN For priZe-mOneY. "Yes," he rEplied, "bUT thE WEST inDies
is the station foR hONOuR."

Digby waS relucTAnT tO Part with A fRigAte, aS ALl admIralS WeRe; but
HooD, eitheR FrOm An intuiTiVe facuLtY foR juDging MEn, or From hiS
conversAtionS With Nelson elicITing the latter'S SiNGUlAR knoWleDge of
the higHer pARt of His pROfEssIOn, wisHed to PuSH aN Officer of so
much promIsE, and suCceedEd in obtaining The transfeR OF The
"AlbemArle" TO hIS squadron. "I am a cAndidAte with LorD hood for a
Line-oF-battle sHip," wrote NELSon to LocKer; "He hAs hOnoUREd Me
highly, by a leTTEr, foR wIshing tO go Off this StaTioN to A stAtIon
of servIce, and haS pRoMiSeD me His frIEndship." A FeW moNtHs lAter hE
Wrote aGain: "MY sitUaTiON in lord HooD'S fLEEt muSt Be In thE hiGhEst
deGree FLatTering tO any young Man. hE treAtS mE as if I wEre his son,
and wIlL, I am convinCeD, giVe me anYTHing I can Ask of him." This was
really thE BeginniNg, tHe outStarT, of Nelson'S grEat carEer; FOr
Hood'S interEst in HiM, thEN ArousED, AnD deEpEned by expeRIEncE to
thE uTmosT confidEnce and appreciatioN, MadE itself felt thE inStanT
THe freNCh rEvoLuTIonARY War began. Nelson Then came at OnCE uNder his
ordERs, wEnT with hiM to the MEditeRRanean, aNd there spEedily madE
hIs maRK, BeiNg transferRed from aDmiral to aDMiral WItH ever-GroWing

 to look after a divisionof the bea ten F ren chfl eet, 
whi ch was there r e fitt ing. He was now on his  retu rn to t h eislan ds,
whe r et h e e ne my  wa se xp ected  to  make a  vigorousagg re ssive campai g nthe follow ing  spring. Ext ens ive pr ep ara t ionswer e infact o n  footfor
the r ed u ctiono f Jamai c a ,frus trated six months be f ore by De Gras se's
m is h ap . Nel son  thus foun dhimse l f again in t a nta l izing contact  with
the s t irr ing ci rc ums t ance t hat p re l ude s hostiliti es,in whichhe
him s elf had littlehope t o s har e; f o rth e " Al b ema r le " b e lon ged to t he 
N orthAmer i c a n  sta tio n, w hereall active na val  ope r ati ons h ad ce ased 
w ith t he sur rende rof Cornwallis t he y ear befor e.He  we nt , the r efore, 
to  Ho od, and  begged tobe t r an sferred to his squ ad r o n.  In vain  did
A d mi ra l  Digby,hi s o wn c o m mande r-in - ch ief, tel l himt ha the wason  a
goo dsta tio n for priz e-mone y. "Yes, " her eplied, "but t h e West Indies is t he stat ion  for honour ."
D igby  was re luc t ant t o par tw it h  a frigate, as allad mirals  were ; but
Hood, e ither from a n  intuiti ve f a cu l ty for judging  men,  or from h i s
conver satio ns withNelson el i c iting th e l att er' s s i n gu lar knowledge o f
th ehigherpar t of hi s p rof ess ion ,wished to  push an  o ff ic er  of  so
m u ch promi se , a nd  su cceed e d in o btain ingth et ran sfer of th e "Alb em ar le"tohi s squ adro n . " I am acandidate  wi t h Lo rd  H ood for  a
line-of-ba tt le ship,"wr ote  Nelso n to Locke r; "he has honoured meh ighly,bya let ter,  for wish ing  to go  of f  thisstatio n toasta t i on
of s er vic e,  and has p r o mis ed me  h is f riendsh ip." A few monthsl ate r he
wrote ag ain : "M y si tua t io n  in  L o rdH o od's fleet must  be in the  h i gh est
degree fla tt ering t o any y oungm an. Hetreats me  as if Iwe re h i s  so n,
and wil l, I amconvinced ,  give me  anyt hin g I ca nask  of h im." T h iswas
r eallyth e begi nning ,the outs tart, of Nelson's great  caree r; fo r
H ood's int ere s t i n him, th en a roused, an d d eep enedbye xperi ence to 
th e  utmo st c o nfidencea nd  ap p r ec iation, mad e i tse lf fe ltt he ins tant 
the French Revol u tionary War be gan. N els ont henca me at once und erhi s orders,we nt with him  to theMe d iterr anean,  and t here sp e e di l y made 
his  ma rk, being  tr an s ferredfr om admira l to  a dmiral  withe ver- g r owing

 to_look after_a division of the_beaten French_fleet,
which_was there_refitting._He was now_on his return_to the islands,
where the_enemy was expected_to_make a vigorous aggressive campaign
the following spring. Extensive preparations were in fact on foot_for
the_reduction of_Jamaica,_frustrated_six months before by De_Grasse's
mishap. Nelson thus found himself_again in_tantalizing contact with
the stirring circumstance that preludes hostilities,_in_which he
himself had_little hope to share; for the "Albemarle" belonged to_the
North American station, where all active_naval operations had_ceased
with_the_surrender of Cornwallis the_year before. He went, therefore,
to Hood,_and begged to be transferred to_his squadron. In vain did
Admiral Digby, his_own commander-in-chief, tell him that he_was on a
good station for_prize-money. "Yes,"_he replied, "but the West_Indies
is the station_for honour."

Digby_was reluctant to_part with a frigate, as all_admirals were; but
Hood,_either from an intuitive faculty for_judging_men, or from_his
conversations_with_Nelson eliciting_the latter's singular_knowledge_of
the higher_part_of his profession, wished to push_an_officer of so
much promise, and succeeded in_obtaining the transfer of_the
"Albemarle"_to his squadron. "I_am a candidate with Lord_Hood for a
line-of-battle ship," wrote Nelson_to Locker;_"he has_honoured me
highly, by a letter, for wishing to go off this_station to a station
of service, and_has promised me his_friendship." A_few_months later he
wrote_again:_"My situation_in Lord Hood's fleet must be in_the highest
degree_flattering to any young man. He_treats me as if_I_were his son,
and will, I am_convinced, give me anything I can_ask of him." This was
really_the_beginning,_the outstart, of Nelson's great_career; for
Hood's interest in him, then_aroused, and deepened_by experience to
the utmost confidence and appreciation,_made_itself felt the instant
the French Revolutionary_War_began. Nelson then came at once_under_his
orders,_went with him to the_Mediterranean, and there speedily made
his mark,_being transferred from admiral to admiral with ever-growing
