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, necessarily, have a master, in it’s worst sense, on board his own ship.  This maxim is earnestly recommended to every British youth who enters into the naval service of his country.

Captain Locker was quite charmed with his young lieutenant, and heartily congratulated him on the event.  He assured him of his constant friendship; and encouraged him always to ask any indulgence which it might be in his power to grant.

The Lowestoffe, from it’s situation with the fleet, had at this time but small scope for active service, Lieutenant Nelson, therefore, ever anxious for professional employ, and ever thirsting for enlarged improvement in experimental seamanship, requested that Captain Locker would favour him with the command of the schooner which was attached as a tender to the frigate.  This being readily complied with, he immediately proceeded, in that small vessel, to render himself a complete pilot for all the intricate passages of those islands, which are situated to the northward of St. Domingo, or Hispaniola, and known by the general appellation of the Keys; and soon became as familiarly acquainted with the navigation of them, as he had long been with that of the British channel.