Nelson was now at the summit of his glory; and congratulations, rewards, and honours were showered upon him by all the states, princes, and powers to whom his victory had given respite.  He was created Baron Nelson of the Nile and of Burnham Thorpe, with a pension of L2,000 a year for his own life, and those of his successors; a grant of L10,000 was voted to him by the East India Company; and the King of Naples made him Duke of Bronte.

IV.—­Lady Hamilton

As soon as his shattered frame had sufficiently recovered, Nelson was called to services of greater importance than any one in which he had been hitherto employed.

The kindest attentions and warmest affection were awaiting him at Naples; the king, the queen, and Lady Hamilton, who was the queen’s constant favourite, welcomed their hero and deliverer with the most splendid festivities.  General Mack, with whom Nelson was to co-operate, was at the head of the Neapolitan troops; and while he marched with 32,000 men into the Roman state, 5,000 Neapolitans were embarked on the British and Portuguese squadron to take possession of Leghorn.

Nelson’s fears of the result were soon verified.  “The Neapolitan officers,” he said, “did not lose much honour, for God knows they had not much to lose—­but they lost all they had.”  The French in the Roman State routed the cowardly Neapolitans.  There was a strong revolutionary party in Naples itself; and it was agreed that the royal family must seek safety in flight.  Their secret escape, with much treasure, on board the Vanguard, was conducted with the greatest address by Lady Hamilton, and Nelson conveyed them through a wild storm to Palermo.

He had by this time formed an infatuated attachment for Lady Hamilton, which totally weaned his affections from his wife.  He was dissatisfied with himself and weary of the world.  But, in accordance with his principle of duty “to assist in driving the French to the devil and in restoring peace and happiness to mankind,” he at length expelled the French from Naples and restored Ferdinand to his throne.  Weak in health, dispirited, and smarting under a censure from the Admiralty for a disobedience to orders, Nelson resigned his command, and reached England in November 1800, having travelled with Sir William and Lady Hamilton.

The great admiral was welcomed to England with every mark of popular honour; but he had forfeited domestic happiness for ever.  Before he had been three months at home, he separated from Lady Nelson, vowing that there was nothing in her or in her conduct that he could have wished otherwise.