He was still in the Mediterranean when the news of his elevation reached him, and he received the first account of it from a newspaper.  In allusion to it, he writes:—­“I was never more surprised than at this event.  Never was man more ignorant of its being thought of; much less reason had I to expect it; and it has happened only by a combination of events quite unconnected with influence or power.  I had some reason to believe a red ribbon was intended, and ——­ wrote that it had been granted; but if so, it was changed next day to what it is, which, for the sake of our family, I hope will be useful and respectable.  For myself I am indifferent, and know it will only tend to multiply my enemies, and increase my difficulties.” ...  In the course of this year, he received a handsome compliment from the officers of the Mediterranean fleet.  It is a beautiful model of the Warwick vase, executed by Messrs. Rundel and Bridge, at a cost of 580 guineas, and bears the following inscription:—­“Presented to the Right Honourable Admiral Lord Exmouth, &c., &c., &c., as a mark of their respect and esteem, by the officers who served under his Lordship’s command in the Mediterranean.”

At the beginning of the next year, when the order of the Bath was extended, he was included among the knights commanders; and was afterwards advanced on an early vacancy to be a grand cross.  The former was entirely unexpected, as he knew nothing of the intention to extend the order.  He thus begins a letter to his brother on the 5th of January:—­“I seize this moment, when the arrival of the post has brought me the enclosed without one single line from any friend I have on earth:  possibly, it was owing to the lateness of the nomination.  I had not the most distant idea of this event, and I can only account for its coming to me by the squabbling of parties ... to end which, it was probably decided on giving it to the commander-in-chief.  On this ground only can I account for it, as it was by no means necessary to add this, which was once considered due to me as a reward of sufficient magnitude, without any other.

“6th January, 1815.—­I had written the above before any gazette reached me, which explains the whole.  But as it shows my heart and mind to you without reserve, and as I can call God to witness, that I never in my life kept anything from you.  I send it.—­May God bless you.”

He had remained but a few months in England, when, on the renewal of hostilities consequent on the return of Napoleon from Elba, he was sent back to the Mediterranean.  Hoisting his flag in the Boyne, and again with his brother, Sir Israel, as captain of the fleet, he hastened to his station.  His services were first required at Naples, which he was so happy as to save from all the horrors of anarchy.  Murat, that he might create a diversion in favour of Napoleon, had rashly attacked Austria, and thus violated the compact by which he was allowed to hold his usurped throne.