St.Vincent, positive as he was, had shrunk from distinguishing by name even Nelson at the battle which had won for himself his title.
This naturally suggests the speculation whether the joint presence of St.Vincent and Troubridge at the Admiralty was not the cause of this futility; but nothing can be affirmed.
"First secure the victory, then make the most of it," had been avowedly Nelson's motto before the Nile.

In the Battle of Copenhagen he had followed much the same rule.

After beating the force immediately opposed to him, he obtained the safe removal of his detachment from the critical position in which it lay, by the shrewd use made of the advantage then in his hands.

This achieved, and his ships having rejoined the main body, after various mishaps from grounding, under the enemy's guns, which emphasized over and over the adroit presence of mind he had displayed, it next fell to him to make the most of what the British had so far gained; having regard not merely to Denmark and Copenhagen, but to the whole question of British interests involved in the Coalition of the Baltic States.

Parker intrusted to him the direct management of the negotiations, just as he had given him the immediate command of the fighting.
One circumstance, which completely changed the political complexion of affairs, was as yet unknown to him.