of Copenhagen was a deliberate slight, the implication of which, he thought, could not be disregarded.  Delay, up to the time then present, might be attributed to other causes, not necessarily offensive, although, from a letter to his friend Davison, he seems to have feared neglect; but the vote of thanks to the two Services for their successes in Egypt left no room to doubt, that the failure to take similar action in the case of Copenhagen was intentional.

This Nelson regarded, and justly, as an imputation upon the transactions there.  Where a practice is invariable, omission is as significant as commission can be.  Either the victory was doubtful, or of small consequence, or, for some other reason, not creditable to the victors.  He wrote at once to the Lord Mayor.  After recalling the facts, he said:  “If I were only personally concerned, I should bear the stigma, now first attempted to be placed upon my brow, with humility.  But, my Lord, I am the natural guardian of the characters of the Officers of the Navy, Army, and Marines, who fought, and so profusely bled, under my command on that day....  When I am called upon to speak of the merits of the Captains of his Majesty’s ships, and of the officers and men, whether seamen, marines, or soldiers, I that day had the happiness to command, I say, that never was the glory of this country upheld with more determined bravery than upon that occasion, and more important service was never rendered to our King and Country.  It is my duty to prove to the brave fellows, my companions in dangers, that I have not failed, at every proper place, to represent, as well as I am able, their bravery and meritorious services.”

This matter was the occasion, possibly the cause, of bringing him into collision with the Admiralty and the Government on the same subject.  Although his private representations, soon after his return to England, had obtained from Lord St. Vincent, as he thought, a promise that medals should be issued for the battle, no steps thereto had been taken.  He now enclosed to the Prime Minister and to the First Lord a copy of his letter to the Lord Mayor; and to both he alluded to the assurance he believed had been made him.  “I have,” he said, “been expecting the medals daily since the King’s return from Weymouth.”  St. Vincent’s reply was prompt as himself.  With reference to the former matter, he confined himself to drily thanking Nelson, without comment, “for communicating the letter you have judged fit to write to the Lord Mayor;” but as to the medals, he wrote a separate note, telling him that he had “given no encouragement, but on the contrary had explained to your Lordship, and to Mr. Addington, the impropriety of such a measure being recommended to the King.”