IV

INTRODUCTION.

been always given to successful Admirals or Generals whocommanded in chief, it was often used as an inferior or secon-dary reward; for when a Peerage or a Baronetcy was grantedto the superior Officers, the Red Ribband was conferred uponthe second, the third, or the fourth in command. Thus, forthe great Battle of the 1st of June 1794, none of the Admiralswere appointed Knights of the Bath, because Earl Howewaited for a vacant Garter, the second and third in command(the latter of whom was already a Knight of the Bath) ob-tained Irish Peerages, and the three other Flag Officers, andthe Captain of the Fleet were made Baronets. For the victoryoff Cape St. Vincent, in February 1797, the Commander inChief, Sir John Jervis, was created an Earl; two of the Ad-mirals were made Baronets, and that dignity having beendeclined by the other Admiral, because, as the son of an Earlhe already possessed higher rank, he was afterwards createda Peer of Ireland, while Commodore Nelson, the fifth incommand, was Invested with the Red Ribband. The ViceAdmiral who was second in command at the Battle of Cam-perdown (at which only two Flag Officers were present)was made a Baronet; and his Chief, a Viscount. As therewas no other Admiral at the Battle of the Nile than theRear Admiral who commanded the British Squadron, Knight-hood, and Medals were the only Honours conferred, exceptthe Peerage to Sir Horatio Nelson. After the Battle of Tra-falgar, Vice Admiral Collingwood (who succeeded to thecommand on the death of Lord Nelson) was raised to thePeerage, and never received the Order of the Bath; but whichwas conferred upon Rear Admiral the Earl of Northesk, thenext Officer in command.