There was no serious question as to the condemnation of the four last seizures, the facts being clear and the principle settled;[10] but the rage of the inhabitants of Nevis led them to seek revenge upon Nelson for the injury they could no longer prevent.  He had summoned the masters of the ships on board the “Boreas,” and, after satisfying himself that the vessels were not entitled to British registers, had sent marines to hold them, and to prevent essential witnesses from leaving them, until the cases were tried.  Upon these circumstances was based an accusation of assault and imprisonment, the masters swearing that they had made their statements under bodily fear.  Writs were issued against Nelson, damages being laid at four thousand pounds, a sum which to him meant ruin.  Although he asserted that there was absolutely no truth in the charges, which are certainly in entire contradiction to the general, if not invariable, tenor of his life and conduct, he was advised by the Crown lawyers not to subject himself to trial, as in the state of public feeling he could not expect a fair verdict.  To avoid arrest, he was forced to confine himself to the ship for seven weeks, during which the marshal made several attempts to serve the writ, but without success.  On the day that the case of the seized ships came up, he was able to be present in court only by the safe conduct of the judge.

Two days after the seizure of the four vessels, Sir Richard Hughes, who was making a tour of the station under his command, arrived at Nevis; but he had no support to give his zealous lieutenant.  “He did not appear to be pleased with my conduct,” wrote Nelson to Locker.  “At least he did not approve it, but told me I should get into a scrape.  Seven weeks I was kept a close prisoner to my ship; nor did I ever learn that the admiral took any steps for my release.  He did not even acquaint the Admiralty Board how cruelly I had been treated; nor of the attempts which had been made to take me out of my ship by force, and that indignity offered under the fly of his flag.”  “I had the governor, the Customs, all the planters upon me; subscriptions were soon filled to prosecute; and my admiral stood neuter, although his flag was then in the roads.”  To this lack of countenance on the part of his superior, and direct persecution by those injuriously affected by his action, there was added a general social ostracism, to which he frequently alludes, and which was particularly emphasized by its contrast with the habits of hospitality prevalent among the small and wealthy planter community.  One friend, however, stood by him, and offered to become his bail in the sum of ten thousand pounds,—­Mr. Herbert, the President of Nevis, and one of the wealthiest men in the island.  He had, Nelson said, suffered more than any one else from the interruption of the trade, but he considered that the young captain had done only his duty.  Possibly there may have been a warmer feeling underlying this esteem, for he was the uncle of the lady whom Nelson afterwards married, and to whom he seems to have been paying attention already.