This was followed by a pension of �2000 per annum upon the rear-admiral and his two next heirs male, from the parliament of England, and of �1000 from that of Ireland ; also by a unanimous vote of thanks from both those parliaments. Gold medals were presented to Lord Nelson and his captains ; and the first lieutenants of all the ships engaged were promoted to commanders. The word "engaged" striking Lord Nelson as likely to lead to a piece of injustice towards the first lieutenant of the Culloden, the rear-admiral, in a letter to Earl St.-Vincent, expresses himself on the subject thus : " I sincerely hope this is not intended to exclude the first lieutenant of the Culloden ; for heaven's sake, for my sake, if it be so, get it altered." The word was, however, retained, if only to prevent any unengaged ship, under different circumstances, from making a precedent of the case ; but Lord Spencer directed Earl St.-Vincent to promote the Culloden's lieutenant : which, we believe, was forthwith done ; but we cannot speak with certainty, not having been able to procure the officer's name.

Strictly speaking, too, only the captains that had been "engaged" were to have medals ; but the king himself expressly authorized Lord Spencer to present one to Captain Troubridge, " for his services both before and since, and for the great and wonderful exertions be made at the time of the action, in saving and getting off his ship." Lord Nelson's opinion of this officer may be summed up in his own energetic words, when writing to Earl St: Vincent : "The eminent services of our friend deserve the very highest rewards. I have experienced the ability and activity of his mind and body. It was Troubridge who equipped the squadron so soon at Syracuse : it was Troubridge who exerted himself for me after the action : it was Troubridge who saved the Culloden, when none that I know in the service would have attempted it : it is Troubridge whom I have left as myself at Naples ; he is, as a friend and as an officer, a nonpareil."

The East India company, with a proper sense of the benefit they derived from the Nile victory, made a present to Lord Nelson of �10,000 ; and the cities of London and Liverpool, and other cities and corporate bodies, took the opportunity of testifying their approbation of the rear-admiral's conduct. Foreign countries, also, were not slow in paying their tribute of respect to the conqueror. The grand signior presented Lord Nelson with a diamond aigrette (chelengh), and a sable fur with broad sleeves ; also with 2000 sequins, to be distributed among the wounded of his crew. The Ottoman Porte instituted a new order, that of the Crescent ; and made the English rear-admiral the first knight-companion of it. The mother of the grand signior sent Lord Nelson a rose, set with diamonds of great value ; and many other were the presents and compliments which the

* Clarke and McArthur's Life of Nelson, vol. ii., p.119.

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