Elliot started for England a few days afterwards, and reached London at a time when the whole country was ringing with the news of the victory.  Arriving at such a propitious moment, there could have been for Nelson no better advocate than this man, placed high in political councils, and having to give to the Ministry a long account of his career in the Mediterranean, throughout the whole of which the two had been in intimate contact and constant correspondence.  Himself an eye-witness, and filled with enthusiasm for Nelson’s latest exploit, Elliot knew better than any one that it was no sporadic outburst, but only a signal manifestation of the intuitive sagacity, the flashing promptness, and the sustained energy, whose steady fires he had known to burn, without slackening of force or change of motive, through two years of close personal association in public action to a common end.  The government thus learned more of him than can easily transpire under ordinary service conditions, or be shown even by an incident like that at St. Vincent; and Elliot’s admiration, free from all bias of professional partiality or professional jealousy, doubtless was more useful to Nelson than any narrative of his own could have been.  Even the royal favor was conciliated, despite the obstinate temper which yielded prejudices with difficulty.  “I must rejoice,” wrote Nelson to the Duke of Clarence, who had mentioned to him the King’s approval, “in having gained the good opinion of my Sovereign, which I once was given to understand I had no likelihood of enjoying."[54] It was to the honor of the monarch that he was thus as pliant to admit merit in an officer as yet only rising to distinction, as he was firm at a later day to stamp with the marks of his displeasure the flagrant moral aberration of the then world-renowned admiral.

The coveted Knighthood of the Bath was accorded on the 17th of March, “in order,” wrote the First Lord, “to mark the Royal approbation of your successful and gallant exertions on several occasions during the course of the present war in the Mediterranean, and more particularly of your very distinguished conduct in the glorious and brilliant victory obtained over the fleet of Spain by His Majesty’s fleet, on the 14th of February last.”  Nelson’s delight was great and characteristic.  Material rewards were not in his eyes the most real or the richest.  “Chains and Medals,” he wrote to his brother, “are what no fortune or connexion in England can obtain; and I shall feel prouder of those than all the titles in the King’s power to bestow.”  To his wife he said:  “Though we can afford no more than a cottage—­yet, with a contented mind, my chains, medals, and ribbons are all sufficient.”  To receive honor was second to no possession, except that of knowing he had deserved it.