CHAPTER XV.
NELSON LEAVES THE MEDITERRANEAN .-- THE JOURNEY OVERLAND THROUGH GERMANY .-- ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND .-- SEPARATION FROM LADY NELSON .-- HOISTS HIS FLAG IN THE CHANNEL FLEET, UNDER LORD ST.

VINCENT.
JUNE, 1800--JANUARY, 1801.

AGE, 42.
At the time Nelson and the Hamiltons returned to Palermo, the Queen of Naples was wishing, for political reasons, to visit Vienna.

To meet this wish Nelson took the "Foudroyant" and "Alexander" off the blockade of Malta, that they might carry herself and suite to Leghorn, together with the Hamiltons.

He clung also to the hope that Keith would give him his powerful flagship to return to England, in which case the Hamiltons would go with him.