In December, to his utter astonishment, he received an order from the commander in chief, stating that he had obtained good advice, and required that the Americans might not only be prevented from coming in, but permitted to have free egress and regress, if the governor chose to allow them.  He inclosed, at the same time, a copy of the orders which he had sent to the governors and presidents of the islands.  Some, on this, began by sending letters, not far different from orders, that they should admit them in such and such situations as they described:  telling Captain Nelson, that Sir Richard had left it to them; but, that they thought it right to let him know it.  These, however, he soon silenced.  The commander in chief’s was a more delicate business.  He was under the necessity of either disobeying orders, or of disobeying acts of parliament which he conceived the latter was disobeying.  He, therefore, nobly determined on the former:  trusting to the uprightness of his intention; and fully confiding, that his country would not allow him to be ruined by protecting it’s commerce.  He sent to Sir Richard; expatiated on the navigation laws, to the best of his ability; and frankly told him, that some person, he was certain, had been giving him advice, which he would be sorry for having taken, against the positive directions of acts of parliament.  He expressed his conviction, that Sir Richard had too much regard for the commerce of Great Britain, to suffer our worst enemy to take it from us; and that, too, at a time when Great Britain was straining every nerve to suppress illegal trade at home, which only affected her revenue:  that he hoped we should not be so singular, as to allow of a much more ruinous traffic’s being carried on under the king’s flag.  He added, in short, that he should decline obeying his orders, till he had an opportunity of seeing and talking to him; making, at the same time, an apology for any seeming impropriety.

Sir Richard Hughes was, at first, going to send a captain to supersede him:  but, having mentioned the matter to his captain, was informed, that all the squadron seemed to think the orders sent were illegal; and, therefore, did not know how far Captain Nelson was obliged to obey them.  Such being their sentiments, he could not have been there tried by a court-martial.

Captain Nelson now proceeded to inform the people of the custom-house, that he should, after such a day, seize all foreign vessels found in our islands; and, till then, keep them out to the utmost of his power.  They fancied, however, that he could not seize, without a deputation; and, therefore, disregarded his threats.

In May 1785, accordingly, he seized the first American vessel.  Immediately, he had the governor, the officers of the customs, and most of the planters, for his enemies.  Subscriptions were instantly set on foot, and soon filled, to prosecute him; and the admiral stood neuter, though his flag was then flying in the roads.