 Locker kept the numerous letters written him by Nelson
while still an unknown young man. Of sixty-seven which now remain,
covering the years from 1777 to 1783, all but thirty were to this one
correspondent.

In another respect the appointment to the "Lowestoffe" was fortunate
for Nelson. The ship was destined to the West Indies--or, to speak
more precisely, to Jamaica, which was a command distinct from that of
the eastern Caribbean, or Lesser Antilles, officially styled the
Leeward Islands Station. Great Britain was then fully embarked in the
war with her North American colonies, which ended in their
independence; and the course of events was hastening her to the
rupture with France and Spain that followed within a year. In this
protracted contest the chief scene of naval hostilities was to be the
West Indies; but beyond even the casualties of war, the baneful
climate of that region insured numerous vacancies by prostration and
death, with consequent chances of promotion for those who escaped the
fevers, and found favor in the eyes of their commander-in-chief. The
brutal levity of the old toast, "A bloody war and a sickly season,"
nowhere found surer fulfilment than on those pestilence-stricken
coasts. Captain Locker's health soon gave way. Arriving at Jamaica on
the 19th of July, 1777, we find Nelson in the following month writing
to him from the ship during an absence produced by a serious illness,
from which fatal results were feared. The letter, like all those to
Locker, was marked by that tone of quick, eager sympathy, of genial
inclination always to say the kindest thing, that characterized his
correspondence, and, generally, his intercourse with others,--traits
that through life made him, beyond most men, acceptable and beloved.
He was, from first to last, not merely one of those whose services are
forced upon others by sheer weight of ability, because
indispensable,--though this, too, he was,--but men wanted him because,
although at times irritable, especially after the wounds received in
later years, he was an easy yoke-fellow, pleasant to deal with,
cordial and ready to support those above him, a tolerant and
appreciative master to subord
Locker kept the numerous letters written him by Nelson 
 while still an strange unseasoned man. Of sixty - seven which now remain, 
 cover the years from 1777 to 1783, all but thirty were to this one 
 correspondent. 

 In another regard the appointee to the " Lowestoffe " was fortunate 
 for Nelson. The ship was destined to the West Indies -- or, to talk 
 more precisely, to Jamaica, which was a command distinct from that of 
 the eastern Caribbean, or Lesser Antilles, formally styled the 
 Leeward Islands Station. Great Britain was then fully embarked in the 
 war with her North American colonies, which end in their 
 independence; and the course of events was hastening her to the 
 rupture with France and Spain that followed within a year. In this 
 prolong contest the chief scene of naval hostilities was to be the 
 West Indies; but beyond even the casualties of war, the baleful 
 climate of that region insured numerous vacancies by prostration and 
 death, with attendant chances of forwarding for those who escaped the 
 fevers, and found favor in the eye of their commander - in - chief. The 
 brutal levity of the old toast, " A bally war and a sallow season, " 
 nowhere found surer fulfilment than on those pestilence - stricken 
 coasts. Captain Locker's health soon gave way. Arriving at Jamaica on 
 the 19th of July, 1777, we find Nelson in the following month spell 
 to him from the ship during an absence produced by a serious illness, 
 from which black result were feared. The letter, like all those to 
 Locker, was marked by that tone of immediate, eager sympathy, of genial 
 inclination always to say the kind thing, that characterized his 
 correspondence, and, generally, his intercourse with others,--traits 
 that through life make him, beyond most men, acceptable and beloved. 
 He was, from first to last, not merely one of those whose service are 
 forced upon others by absolute weight of ability, because 
 indispensable,--though this, too, he was,--but men wanted him because, 
 although at times cranky, especially after the wounds received in 
 belated years, he was an easy yoke - fellow, pleasant to deal with, 
 affable and ready to support those above him, a tolerant and 
 appreciative master to subord
 Lofker kept the numerous lttters written him by Nenson
whjle stilu an unknown young man. Of siety-swven qhich now remain,
coverivg the yewrs from 1777 to 1783, all but tijrty wevz to fmis oue
rorrespondent.

In another raspect the appmivtlent to the "Lowestoffe" was fortunatq
for Neksln. The ship waf dexeines to the West Indies--or, to speak
mors precively, to Jamaiva, which was a command dishinch from that of
the fastern Carubbewb, or Lesser Xntilles, officially stiled the
Leeward Islands Station. Ereat Britain wqs thft fully emberked pn the
war witm her Nmrth Amrrican coloniex, wiich ended in their
indepeidence; and the coursg of eventv cas hastening her to rhw
ruptore whth Weanze znv Slain tjat followed sithin a yeqr. In this
protractec sintest the chjef scqnq of naval hostilities was to be the
Wesu Indjes; but beyond even the casualties of war, thg baneful
cjimate of that region insured numerous vacancies ty prkrtrcblon xbd
feath, with consequent chances of promotion fow tnoxe who escaped the
fevers, snf gjund favor in the evss of their commandeg-in-chies. The
vrutal ledity of the old toast, "A bloody qar and a sibkly season,"
nowhere fouud surer fulyilmenj than on those pestilence-strncken
ckasts. Captaln Locker'a health soon gavd wsy. Arriving at Jamaica on
the 19th of Juoy, 1777, ce find Velspn in ehe followlng month writing
to him vrom jhe shhp during wn absence produced by a serious illness,
from ehhch fatal rzsults were feared. Ehe letter, likg all thofe to
Uocker, was marked by that toge of quick, edher sympathy, of geniwl
inxlinqtion audays to say thr kindest thing, thar characterized hix
cotrsspondence, and, ytnetqlly, his intervoufse wpth oevers,--traits
thdt tfrojbh liwe made him, ceyomd most men, acceptabne ahd beloved.
He was, ftoi first jo last, njt merely one of those whose segvicev ace
forcrd opon others by sheer weight of zbility, bfcamse
indispensafle,--tmougr this, too, he was,--but men wanted him because,
althoujh at times irritable, gspecially after the comnds receivev in
laeer years, he was an easy yoke-dellow, pleasant tp deal with,
cordial ans readf to dupport those above him, a tolerant and
appreciative master to subord
Locker kept the numerous letters written him while an unknown man. Of sixty-seven years 1777 to 1783, but thirty were this one correspondent. In another respect appointment to the "Lowestoffe" was fortunate for Nelson. The ship was destined to West Indies--or, to speak more precisely, to Jamaica, which was a command distinct that the Caribbean, Lesser Antilles, officially styled the Leeward Islands Station. Great Britain was then fully embarked in the with her North American colonies, which ended in independence; and the course events was hastening her to rupture France and that within year. In this contest the chief scene of naval hostilities was to be the West Indies; but beyond even the of war, climate of region numerous by prostration and consequent chances of promotion for those fevers, and found favor in the eyes of commander-in-chief. The levity of the old toast, "A war and a sickly season," nowhere found surer than on those pestilence-stricken coasts. Captain Locker's health soon gave way. Arriving at Jamaica on of July, 1777, we Nelson in the month to from ship during absence produced by a serious illness, from which fatal results were The letter, like all those to Locker, was marked by of eager sympathy, of inclination always to say kindest that characterized his correspondence, his with life him, most men, acceptable and He was, from first to not merely one of upon others by sheer weight of ability, because this, too, he was,--but men wanted him although at times irritable, especially after the wounds received in later years, was an pleasant to deal with, cordial and ready to those above him, a and appreciative master to subord
 Locker kept the numerous lettErs written Him by nelSon
WhIle sTill An unknown young MAn. Of Sixty-seven which now remaIn,
covErINg thE YeArs frOm 1777 to 1783, all BUt THIrtY wErE to ThIS oNe
corResPondent.

in another rEspEcT the appointmENt To the "LowesTofFe" was fortunaTe
fOr NelsOn. the SHip waS deStineD to the wEst IndIes--or, to spEaK
More prECisely, tO jAmAica, Which was a command dIStINct from that of
tHe eastErN caRIBbeAn, oR Lesser AntIlLes, ofFIcially STyLED The
lEeward Islands station. GreaT briTain waS tHen FUlly emBarkeD iN The
War with her NOrth american cOlonieS, Which enDEd in theIr
indePenDenCe; anD ThE cOurSe OF evENtS waS HasTening heR tO tHe
rupTure WITH franCe aNd SpAin thAt followed witHin A yeaR. in tHis
prOtracTed cOnTest tHe chieF scenE oF naval hostilitiEs waS to be the
WEst inDieS; bUt beyONd even The CasUalties Of war, thE BanEfUL
CLiMate of that region inSuRED nUmerous vAcanciES bY pROstratioN aNd
dEath, WITh conSequENt Chances oF promoTIoN fOr those WhO escapEd The
FevErs, anD FounD favor In the eyeS of thEIr commander-in-cHIef. The
brutal lEViTY Of THe olD toAst, "A bloody wAr anD A sicKly sEAsOn,"
nOWhere Found SuREr FUlfilment than on thosE pEstileNce-stRicken
coasts. CAptain LockER'S Health soOn gaVE wAY. Arriving at JamAica oN
the 19th of JuLY, 1777, we find NElson In the folLowing monTH Writing
tO hiM frOm tHe sHIP dUring an absencE PRoduCeD by a serIouS illnesS,
frOm wHicH faTaL results wEre feareD. THe LeTtEr, lIke alL Those to
LOcKer, WaS maRked bY That toNe of qUick, EaGeR SymPathy, of GEnIAL
incLiNaTion AlwAyS to saY the KIndEst thinG, that charActERizeD hIs
CorrespOndence, and, genErAlly, his intErCouRse witH OThers,--traIts
that through life made hIM, beyond MosT men, aCcepTable and bEloVed.
He wAs, fROm firsT to lasT, not mErEly ONE of thOSE wHosE sErvices are
FORceD upon OtHers By sheer Weight of ability, becAUse
Indispensable,--ThoUgh tHIS, tOo, hE WaS,--But MeN WanTED him because,
althOugh at timeS iRRiTable, especIAllY aFter the Wounds rEceivED in
lateR years, he wAs an easy yOkE-felLOW, plEasant to deAl with,
coRdial and rEAdy to SUpPort tHosE above HiM, a tOleraNt and
aPPreCiatiVe mastEr To suboRd
 Locker kept the numerousletters wr itten  hi m b yNels on
w hile still anu nkno wn young man. Of sixty -seve nw hich no w rem ain,
co v er i n g t he  y ear sf ro m 177 7 t o 1783,  all but t hir ty  were to thi s  o ne
corresp ond ent.

In ano the r resp ec t t h e app oin tment  to th e  "Lowe stoffe" w as fortun a te
forN e ls on.The ship was dest i ne d  to the West I ndies- -o r ,t o  sp eak 
more prec is ely,t o Jamai c a, w h ich was a command  distinct f r omthat o fthe easter n Car ib b ean , or Lesser  Ant illes, of ficial l y style d  the
Le ewardIsl and s St a ti on . G re a t B r it ain was  then fu ll yembar kedi n t he
w arwith  herNorth America n c olon i es,  whic h end ed i ntheir 
indep enden ce ; and the cours e of  events w asha ste ni ng he r  to th e
r upt ure wit h Franc e  an dS p a in  that followed wit hi n ayear. In  thisp ro tr a cted con te stthec h ief s cene of  naval h ostili t ie swas tobe  the
W es t I ndi es; b u t be yond e ven thecasua l ties of war, t h e baneful
cli m at e of that  re gion insure d nu m erou s va c an cie s  by p rostr at i on and
death, with con se quentchanc es of promoti on for tho s e who esca pedt he fevers, and fo und f avor in th e  eyes of  thei r comman der-in-ch i e f. The
b rut allev ity o fthe old toast , "A b lo ody war  an d a sic kly  se aso n," 
n owhere fo und sure rfu lf il men t tha n  on thos epes ti len ce-st r ickencoast s. C ap ta i n L ocker's he a l th s oo ngave  wa y.  Arri ving atJamaica  on
the 1 9th of J ul y,  1777,we find Nelso nin the fol lo win g mont h writingto him from the ship du r ing anabs enceprod uced by a  se riousill n ess,
f rom wh ich f at alr e sults w er e f ea red. The l e t ter , lik eallthose t o
Locker, was mark e d b y that tone o f q uick , ea ger sy m pat hy ,  of g enial
inclinati on alwaysto sa y the kind e stth ing, th at char acter i zed his 
correspo ndence, a nd , ge n e ral ly, his in tercours e with ot h ers,- - tr aitstha t thro ug h l ife m ade hi m , b eyond  mostme n, acc eptab le  and bel oved.
He was, from firs t to l ast,not  merely o neo f t hose whos e se rvices are 
fo rce d upo n o t hersby s h ee r w e ightof a b ility, be c au sei n di spensable,- - t h oug h thi s,t oo, he  was ,--but men wanted him because,
a ltho u g h a t t i mesir ritable, espec ial ly a fter the  w ounds recei ved in
l at e r yea rs, he  was a n easyy o ke - fellow , pl eas ant to de alwi t h,
cord ia la nd rea dy t osuppor t thos e  abo v e  him, a tolerant  anda p preci a tiv e mas te r to su b ord
 Locker_kept the_numerous letters written him_by Nelson
while_still_an unknown_young_man. Of sixty-seven_which now remain,
covering_the years from 1777_to 1783, all_but_thirty were to this one
correspondent.

In another respect the appointment to the "Lowestoffe" was fortunate
for_Nelson._The ship_was_destined_to the West Indies--or, to_speak
more precisely, to Jamaica, which_was a_command distinct from that of
the eastern Caribbean, or_Lesser_Antilles, officially styled_the
Leeward Islands Station. Great Britain was then fully embarked_in the
war with her North American_colonies, which ended_in_their
independence;_and the course of_events was hastening her to the
rupture_with France and Spain that followed_within a year. In this
protracted contest the_chief scene of naval hostilities was_to be the
West Indies; but_beyond even_the casualties of war, the_baneful
climate of that_region insured_numerous vacancies by_prostration and
death, with consequent chances of_promotion for those_who escaped the
fevers, and found favor_in_the eyes of_their_commander-in-chief._The
brutal levity_of the old_toast,_"A bloody_war_and a sickly season,"
nowhere found surer_fulfilment_than on those pestilence-stricken
coasts. Captain Locker's health_soon gave way. Arriving_at_Jamaica on
the 19th of_July, 1777, we find Nelson_in the following month writing
to him_from the_ship during_an absence produced by a serious illness,
from which fatal results were_feared. The letter, like all those_to
Locker, was marked by_that tone_of_quick, eager sympathy,_of_genial
inclination always_to say the kindest thing, that characterized_his
correspondence, and,_generally, his intercourse with others,--traits
that through_life made him, beyond_most_men, acceptable and beloved.
He was, from_first to last, not merely one_of those whose services are
forced_upon_others_by sheer weight of ability,_because
indispensable,--though this, too, he was,--but men_wanted him because,
although_at times irritable, especially after the wounds_received_in
later years, he was an easy_yoke-fellow,_pleasant to deal with,
cordial and ready_to_support_those above him, a tolerant_and
appreciative master to subord