In December, 1796, Jervis sent Nelson back to the Mediterranean to aid in the removal of the naval stores from the island of Elba, which the British had retained at the time they hail aban doned the other posts in that sea. As he was returning he had to pass through the whole Span ish fleet, and on February 13. 1797, lie had re joined Jervis. The following day took place the great battle of Cape Saint Vincent (q.v.). Here by his rapid and independent maineuvres Nelson did 11111(.11 to carry the day, and Jervis was magnani mous enough to give him due credit. The Span ish lied of ships was totally de feated by fifteen vessels, and one of the chief naval resources of France lead disappeared. As a reward for his share in this great event Nelson received a knighthood of the Bath. and before this he had become in due order of promotion a rear-admiral of the blue. His next duty was to bring the troops away from Elba, a task which he promptly accomplished. It is interesting to note that though at this time the serious mutinies in the fleet at .pithead and the Nure took place. Nelson had no difficulty with his men, who assured hint of their loyalty. For a few weeks Nelson served off Cadiz, and then, at his own suggestion. he was detached to make an attack on the town of Santa Cruz, on the island of Teneritie, believing that large :Mexican treas ure ships had taken veinge there. whose capture would deal a s..vere blow to Spain. The expedi tion arrived at its destination on July 20, 1797, and the following day an attack was made. This assault and some later were all repulsed. The plan had never anything to recommend it but its boldness and a belief that the place was not strongly defended. Nelson himself fought with great heroism and lost his right arm, and. as the wound lid not heal well. he was compelled to return to England. where he arrived on Sep tember 3, 1797. l in September 27 he was invested with the Order of the Bath by George III. in person. and at the same time a pension of £1000 it year was awarded him. At this time, on ac count of his ill health and a fear that he would never again be able to enter active service, his spirits were greatly depressed, but he revived at once when on March 29. 1798, his flag was again hoisted over a ship. On 30th he rejoined the Earl of Saint Vincent otT Cadiz.
From this time a new period in Nelson's life begins. Ile soon becomes the great man of his service, instead of merely one of many distin guished naval otlice•s. It is the period which opens with Abukir Bay and closes with Trafalgar. It is necessary to consider now the state of Europe at the time when Nelson rejoined the fleet. Aus tria had been compelled by Napoleon's victories in Italy to sign the Preliminaries of Leoben on April 18, 1797, which were ratified soon after by the Treaty of C:unpo•Formio (q.v.). This left England with only one weak ally. Portugal, while it set Napoleon free to attack England itself, lie thought the hest place to injure England would he in the East, and for this purpose prepared his great Egyptian expedition. (See N.00t.t:ox I.) The news of Napoleon's intentions soon reached Saint Vincent, and in spite of the jeal ousy of some tiler officers. he detached Nelson to watch the French fleet and to check it. Nel son was unable to prevent it from getting to Egypt, and for months there was a weary hunt to find the French ships and compel them to tight. Finally. on Ammst 1, 179q, Nelson discovered them in the Bay of Abukir, and in the battle that ensued the French fleet was completely defeated, and only two ‘essels escaped. Nel son received a wound on the head front \\Advil he -uttered fon.%er after. The brilliant victory
at 11mkir practically insured the failure of Na poleon's expedition. since it out him oil from his base of supplies. Nelson was created Itaron Nelson of the Nile, and received a pension of t2that a :sear. besides other numerous gifts and compliments both from England and abroad. On \ogust 19th he sailed from \lexandria and on Septenibe•r 2•'d he finally arrived at Naples.
The Neapolitan period of Nelson's life, whieh entered tle ensniic• two years, was the one blem ish on•his otherwise glorious career. Here bean his criminal relations with the wife of the Eng lish Minister at Naples, Sir William Hamil ton, which led to a complete separation of Nelson and his wife early in 1801. Moreover, Lath• Hamilton influenced Nelson's public acts, so that for a time he behaved rather as coin inanffir-in-chief of the Neapolitan navy than as an English admiral. lle induced Naples, how ever, to make war upon France, but the Nea politan army was soon decisively defeated, and the royal family was compelled in December, 1798, to leave Naples, where the French pro claimed the l'arthenopean Republic. After re siding fur a while with the I lamiltons at Palermo. and vexed for a time on account of the appointment of a junior officer, Sir Sidney Smith, to an important com mand inn the Levant, Nelson was finally roused again to action on May 12, 1799, by the news that Admiral Bruix With the French Brest fleet had escaped from that harbor and was about to enter the Mediterranean. The danger was immi nent that the French would recover the naval supremacy in the Mediterranean, which had been destroyed by the victory at Abukir Bay. Nelson prepared for the emergency with his usual ability, when, to his disgust, Jervis resigned his command and was succeeded by Keith. an honest but by no means brilliant officer. Friction between him and Nelson existed from the start. On .1une 21, 1799, Nelson appeared before Naples intent upon securing that city before the French fleet should appear. He found that the llepublieans had com plete control and were aided by a Neapolitan squadl•on under Commodore Caraccioli. The Nea politan admiral was captured June 29th, and Nelson, as commander-in-chief of the Neapolitan navy. ordered a court-martial, which sent..need the Commodore to death. and he was executed at once. Nelson has often been blamed unjustly for this action, the only fault which can possibly be imputed to him being that pos sibly he might have proceeded with more delibera tion. The forts of the city had on dune 26th. At this time Nelson was created Duke of Pronto by the despicable Ferdinand IV. of Naples. To the influence of Lady Hamilton. Who was the intimate of the Queen of Naples, must be charged the serious of or ders by Nelson shortly after. Ile had been or dered to join Lord Keith and to assist him to meet a large French fleet. but he preferred to remain at Naples. The danger, it is true. was averted ; for on August 13, 1799, the French fleet reiMrtered Pre..t, but. had Nelson eonie up in time it is just possible that another great victory might have been won. For a short time Nelson was commander in the Mediterranean. but he displayed no enthusiasm for his work. On Janu ary 20, 1S00. he 'united his command with that of Keith, and after several quarrels Nelson was finally recalled by orders which reached him in June. Ile traveled overland with the Ilamiltons, and. though he was received everywhere with great enthusiasm. his conduct gase great cause of seandal to all his friends. on November 6, t he party arrived in England, and soon after Nelson's final breach with his wife took place.