1800 - 1801

Nelson separates himself from his Wife--Northern Confederacy--He goes to
the Baltic, under Sir Hyde Parker--Battle of Copenhagen, and subsequent
Negotiation--Nelson is made a Viscount.

NELSON was welcomed in England with every mark of popular honour.
At Yarmouth, where he landed, every ship in the harbour hoisted her
colours. The mayor and corporation waited upon him with the freedom
of the town, and accompanied him in procession to church, with all the
naval officers on shore, and the principal inhabitants. Bonfires and
illuminations concluded the day; and on the morrow, the volunteer
cavalry drew up, and saluted him as he departed, and followed the
carriage to the borders of the county. At Ipswich, the people came out
to meet him, drew him a mile into the town, and three miles out. When he
was in the AGAMEMNON, he wished to represent this place in parliament,
and some of his friends had consulted the leading men of the
corporation--the result was not successful; and Nelson, observing that
he would endeavour to find out a preferable path into parliament, said
there might come a time when the people of Ipswich would think it an
honour to have had him for their representative. In London, he was
feasted by the City, drawn by the populace from Ludgate-hill to
Guildhall, and received the thanks of the common-council for his great
victory, and a golden-hilted sword studded with diamonds. Nelson had
every earthly blessing except domestic happiness; he had forfeited that
for ever. Before he had been three months in England he separated from
Lady Nelson. Some of his last words to her were--"I call God to witness,
there is nothing in you, or your conduct, that I wish otherwise." This
was the consequence of his infatuated attachment to Lady Hamilton.
It had before caused a quarrel with his son-in-law, and occasioned
remonstrances from his truest friends, which produced no other effect
than that of making him displeased with them, and more dissatisfied with
himself.

The Addington administration was just at this time formed; and Nelson,
who had solicited employment, and been made vice-admiral of the blue,
was sent to the Baltic, as second in command, under Sir Hyde Parker,
by Earl St. Vincent, the new First Lord of the Admiralty. The three
Northern courts had formed a confederacy for making England resign her
naval rights. Of these courts, Russia was guided by the passions of its
emperor, Paul, a man not wit