While thus detained in one of the principal dockyards and naval stations of the kingdom, another large detachment, belonging to the Channel fleet, assembled before Nelson’s eyes.  It comprised twelve sail-of-the-line, under Admiral Barrington; and among these was the “Foudroyant,” the most famous ship of her time, then commanded by Captain John Jervis, with whom, as the Earl of St. Vincent, Nelson was afterwards closely associated; but the young frigate captain did not now come in contact with his stately superior, who in later years so highly valued and loved him.  It was for him still the day of small things.  Though thus thrown in the midst of the din and bustle of extensive naval preparations, he had not the fortune to be directly connected with them; and consequently no occasion arose for becoming known to admirals who could recognize his worth, and give him the opportunities without which distinction cannot be achieved.  It is, however, a significant and instructive fact that, while thus persistently dissociated from the great operations then in progress, and employed wholly in detached service, Nelson’s natural genius for war asserted itself, controlling the direction of his thoughts and interests, and fixing them to that broad field of his profession from which he was as yet debarred.  “The height of his ambition,” an acquaintance of this period tells us, “was to command a line-of-battle ship; as for prize money,” for which frigates offered the best chances, “it never entered his thoughts.”  A few months later, while still in the “Albemarle,” it was said of him by Lord Hood, the most original tactician of the day, that he knew as much about naval tactics as any officer in the fleet.  When this high encomium was bestowed, Nelson had barely passed his twenty-fourth birthday.

Meanwhile the “Albemarle” was again ordered upon convoy duty, this time to Quebec.  This destination also was distasteful on account of the climate.  “I want much to get off from this d——­d voyage,” he wrote.  “Mr. Adair,” an eminent London surgeon, who the year before had treated him for the paralysis of his limbs, “has told me that if I was sent to a cold damp climate it would make me worse than ever.”  He himself had scruples about applying for an exchange, and the efforts of some friends who interfered proved useless.  The “Albemarle” started with a convoy of thirty-odd vessels on the 10th of April, 1782; and after a short stop at Cork, anchored at St. John’s, Newfoundland, on May 27, whence she reached Quebec July 1.  Three days later she again sailed on a cruise that lasted over two months, spent chiefly about Boston Bay and Cape Cod.  During this time several enemy’s vessels were taken or destroyed; but, with the bad luck that so often followed Nelson in the matter of prize-money, none of the captures reached port, and the cruise was pecuniarily unprofitable.  It afforded him, however, an opportunity for displaying conduct and gaining deserved reputation, which he