On their arrival in England, the mast was taken out, and properly shortened; and, such other improvements being made, as suggested themselves to the captain, it was, at length, far from a bad old ship.  He always, however, humorously insisted, that the French had taught the Albemarle to run away; as it was never a good sailer, except when going directly before the wind.

In March 1782, he was ordered to Cork; to join the Daedalus, Captain Thomas Pringle, and go with a convoy to Quebec, where they were expected to winter.  This was another severe blow at his tender frame, which had been so buffeted all the late season.  He had, indeed, great reason to dread it’s effects, and wished much to be off of this voyage; but, though he did not doubt that, if he had a little time, he might get another ship—­especially, as his friend, Surgeon Adair, who also attended Admiral Keppel, had declared that, if he were sent to a cold climate, it would make him worse than ever—­having received his orders from Lord Sandwich, he could not avoid thinking it wrong to ask Admiral Keppel to alter them.  Such was his high sense of propriety, and so little his self-consideration.

On the 27th of May, Captain Nelson arrived in St. John’s Harbour, Newfoundland, with four sail of the convoy; having parted with the Daedalus, twenty days before, three hundred leagues to the eastward of Cape Clear, in a hard gale of wind.

On the 3d of June, hearing that the remainder of the Quebec fleet had arrived at a harbour some leagues to the leeward, he sailed to join them; and, without losing a single vessel, they reached the place of destination on the 1st of July.

The third day after their arrival, he was ordered on a cruize off Boston; from which he returned to Quebec on the 17th of September, with the whole crew almost devoured by the scurvy.  Himself and all the officers had, for eight weeks together, lived on salt beef; nor had the ship’s company enjoyed a single fresh meal since the beginning of April.

During the greater part of this time, he had made a point of contriving to see Boston steeple every morning; where he watched for vessels, as they sailed in and out of the harbour.

Though this cruize was of the unsuccessful sort, not a single prize being brought into port, they took, saw, and destroyed, more enemies than are often met with in the same space of time.  Some of the prizes taken, and one of them of considerable value, were lost by the mismanagement of the prize-masters.  That of the principal one, was occasioned by the intoxication of the captors; who had, indiscreetly, made too free with the wine on board.