a:t. 26.]
LETTERS.
121
TO PHILIP STEPHENS, ESQ., ADMIRALTY.
[Copy, in the Admiralty.]
Boreas, Carlisle Bay, Barbadoes , February 17th, 1785.
Sir,
Having lately held a correspondence with Sir RichardHughes, and Mr. Moutray, a Commissioner of his Majesty’sNavy , resident at the Island of Antigua , upon the subject ofa Distinguishing Pendant which the said Commissioner thinkshe has not only a right to hoist on board any one of his Ma-jesty’s Ship 's, but also to direct the operations of his Ma-jesty’s Squadron upon this Station in the absence of theAdmiral, the whole of the papers upon this subject SirRichard Hughes has done me the honour to say he shallenclose to you for their Lordships’ information, therefore it isonly necessary for me, Sir, to elucidate and explain themotives that have actuated my conduct through the whole ofthis business.
The matter is grounded upon my idea (for I never sawany Commission whatever) that Mr. Moutray is not Com-missioned in such a manner as will authorize him to takeupon him the liberty of hoisting a Broad Pendant, or thedirecting the Captains of His Majesty’s Ships; but, Sir, let mefirst beg their Lordships will be assured that I never have re-ceived official information that Commissioner Moutray is ap-pointed a Commodore upon this Station, or put in any Com-mission, but that of Commissioner of the Navy . I must begtheir Lordships’ indulgence to hear reasons for my conduct,that it may never go abroad into the World, I ever had anidea to dispute the orders of my Superior Officer; neitherAdmiral, Commodore, or Captain.
I arrived in English Harbour the 28th July 1784, to layup for the hurricane season. Till the 1st of November 1784,numerous were the orders I received, and eventually withthis direction, to “ Horatio Nelson , Esq., Captain of his Ma-jesty’s Ship Boreas, and Second Officer in the Command of hisMajesty’s ships in English Harbour, Antigua .” At this time,Sir, I need not to say that Mr. Moutray was not a Commo-dore: the whole of the Squadron did, I am sure, look upon