Two years and eight months had passed since Nelson sailed from Spithead, on a cruise destined to have so marked an influence on his professional reputation and private happiness.

He was received on his landing with every evidence of popular enthusiasm, and of official respect from all authorities, civil and military.

With the unvarying devout spirit which characterized him in all the greater events of his life, he asked that public service might be held, to enable him to give thanks in church for his safe return to his native country, and for the many blessings which he had experienced.

The whole party then went on to town, arriving on the 8th.
From those who welcomed Nelson when he first put his foot on shore there was one conspicuously missing.

Lady Nelson had not thought well to go to Yarmouth to await her husband.