Among other matters for reflection, he had at this time a curious cause of anxiety, lest he should be promoted to flag rank, or rather that, being promoted, he should be obliged to return to England at once, as there would be too many admirals in the Mediterranean to permit his retention.  A rumor was current, which proved to be correct, that there would be a large promotion on the 1st of June, the first anniversary of the victory celebrated by that name.  Being then forty-six on the list of captains, Nelson feared that it might include him; in which case, if not permitted to hoist his flag where he was, not only would he lose his ardently desired opportunities for distinction,—­“not an hour this war will I, if possible, be out of active service,”—­but he would be put to much inconvenience and loss.  “If they give me my flag, I shall be half ruined:  unless I am immediately employed in this country, I should, by the time I landed in England, be a loser, several hundred pounds out of pocket.”  To be taken “from actual service would distress me much, more especially as I almost believe these people will be mad enough to come out.”  He escaped this disappointment, however, for the promotion left him still on the post-captains’ list, seven from its head; but he received, what was both complimentary and profitable, the honorary rank of Colonel of Marines,—­a sinecure appointment, of which there were then four, given to post-captains of distinguished services, and vacated by them upon promotion.  These are now discontinued, and replaced, as a matter of emolument, by Good Service Pensions.  Nelson heard later that this reward had been conferred upon him, not merely as a favor, but with a full recognition of all his claims to it.  “The Marines have been given to me in the handsomest manner.  The answer given to many was, the King knew no officer who had served so much for them as myself.”

These promotions came timely to insure for him an employment particularly suited to his active temperament and fearlessness of responsibility, but which, though the fittest man for it, he might, with less seniority, not have received from Hotham, despite the well-known confidence in him shown by Hood.  Since the spring opened, the Austrians and their allies, the Sardinians, had been waiting, ostensibly at least, for assistance from the Navy, to begin a forward movement, the first object of which was the possession of Vado Bay as a safe anchorage for the fleet.  Until the arrival of Man and the convoy, Hotham had not felt strong enough to spare the required force; but now, after the ships had filled their wants from the transports, he, on the 4th of July, detached Nelson, with the “Agamemnon” and six smaller vessels, to co-operate with the Austrian commander-in-chief.  The latter had begun his movement on the 13th of June, passing through Genoese territory despite the remonstrances of the Republic, whose neutrality could claim but slight regard from one belligerent, when she had already permitted the occupation of so much of her shore line by the other.  The French had fallen back, when attacked, abandoning Vado Bay to the enemy, whose headquarters were established at that point.