A very few days afterwards, he proceeded, in the Boreas, on his passage to Tortola, with his royal highness, who had then only that island and Grenada left unvisited.  Indeed, ever since November, his time had been entirely taken up in attending the prince on his tour round these islands.

On the 21st of March, he wrote, while at sea, to Captain Locker, expressing how happy he should be when the time arrived for a voyage to England.  “No man,” he observes, “has had more illness, or more trouble, on a station, than I have experienced:  but, let me lay a balance on the other side—­I am married to an amiable woman, that far makes amends for every thing.  Indeed, till I married her, I never knew happiness.  I shall have great pleasure in introducing you to her.”

The prince, he adds, who has shewn him every act of kindness that the most professed friendship could bestow, was expected to leave the country in June; and, by that time, himself hopes orders will arrive for his returning to England.  He wonders that any independent man will accept the command of this station:  “for,” he concludes, “there is nothing pleasant to be got by it.”

In June 1787, accordingly, the term of three years usually allotted to ships employed on such stations in times of peace being expired, he was ordered home; and arrived at Portsmouth the beginning of July, with Mrs. Nelson and her son.

From this place he writes, on the 3d instant, to his friend Captain Locker; and, speaking of his “dear wife,” says—­ “I have no doubt you will like her, on acquaintance; for, although I must be partial, yet she possesses great good sense, and good temper.”

In all these praises of his lady may be clearly discerned, that he congratulated himself on having made, at least, a prudent choice.  There is little, however, of that rapturous extasy which issues from many a finally most infelicitous husband, some days, weeks, or even months, after the conjugal union.

It was not, certainly, on his side, a mercenary match.  He would have been incapable of marrying with so mean a motive.  He is said, indeed, to have given, about this period, a substantial proof of very much the contrary disposition.  This appears in the following anecdote, which has been repeatedly published.

The President of Nevis had been so excessively displeased with his only daughter, that he resolved to disinherit the young lady, and leave her immense fortune to his niece, Mrs. Nelson:  but Captain Nelson, most generously, instead of widening the breach between them, actually made use of all his interest with the president, who had the highest regard for him, completely to close it, by bringing about a perfect reconciliation; which, at length, to his unspeakable satisfaction, he had the happiness of accomplishing.