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A week passed, when, on the evening of the fifteenth, the ship of the line "Vanguard" and the frigate "Diana" sailed into the harbor; and on the next morning the "Diana" and the "Lowestoffe" passed the town to attack the French vessels in the river above. These were six in all, two frigates, two smaller armed ships, and two schooners; the whole under command of the gallant Vauquelin.
To this friendship we owe the fullest record, at his own hands, of his early career; for Locker kept the numerous letters written him by Nelson while still an unknown young man. Of sixty-seven which now remain, covering the years from 1777 to 1783, all but thirty were to this one correspondent. In another respect the appointment to the "Lowestoffe" was fortunate for Nelson.
I became a courtier, because Heriot so advised it a gamester, because Dalgarno so contrived it an Alsatian, because Lowestoffe so willed it. Whatever of good or bad has befallen me, has arisen out of the agency of others, not from my own. My father's son must no longer hold this facile and puerile course.
His examination was held within a week of his leaving the "Worcester," on the 8th of April, 1777; and Suckling once more, but for the last time in his life, was able to exert his influence in behalf of his relative by promptly securing for him, not only his promotion to lieutenant, which many waited for long, but with it his commission, dated April 10, to the "Lowestoffe," a frigate of thirty-two guns.
"What! your lordship is for a frolic into Alsatia?" said Lowestoffe-" Have with you, my lord you cannot have a better guide to the infernal regions than myself. I promise you there are bona-robas to be found there good wine too, ay, and good fellows to drink it with, though somewhat suffering under the frowns of Fortune.
"You know, my lord," said Master Lowestoffe, "that we Templars are a power and a dominion within ourselves, and I am proud to say that I hold some rank in our republic was treasurer to the Lord of Misrule last year, and am at this present moment in nomination for that dignity myself.
When the "Lowestoffe" had been a year upon the station, it became very doubtful whether Locker could continue in her, and finally he did go home ill. It was probably due to this uncertainty that he obtained the transfer of Nelson, in whom he had become most affectionately interested, to the "Bristol," flagship of Sir Peter Parker, the commander-in-chief.
The other incident recorded by him as happening while on board the "Lowestoffe," he himself cites as illustrative of temperament. "Whilst in this frigate, an event happened which presaged my character; and, as it conveys no dishonour to the officer alluded to, I shall insert it. Blowing a gale of wind, and a very heavy sea, the frigate captured an American letter-of-marque.
Besides, I have two noble friends here, Master Lowestoffe of the Temple, and his cousin Master Ringwood, that will blithely be of so gallant a party." "Lowestoffe and Ringwood!" said Jenkin; "they are both brave gallants- -they will be sure company. Know you where they are to be found?" "Ay, marry do I," replied Richie. "They are fast at the cards and dice, till the sma' hours, I warrant them."
And here, in good time, comes Master Reginald Lowestoffe, and another honourable gentleman of the Temple, to be witnesses to the transaction." "I I incline to think," said the scrivener, "that the term is expired." "You will pardon us, Master Scrivener," said Lowestoffe. "You will not baffle us it wants three-quarters of noon by every clock in the city."
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