It explains, also, the remarkable outburst of gratitude that hailed him on his return from a chase which had been wholly unsuccessful as regards his own chief object--the annihilation of the French fleet.

He had failed to find it, but he had driven the enemy out of the West Indies before they could do any serious injury to the vital interests of the country.

A man cannot be said to be decoyed, because, in pursuance of a judgment deliberately formed beforehand, he does the thing which the moment demands; unless it can be shown that he has thereby uncovered greater interests.

This Nelson did not do.

He saved the West Indies, and returned in time to protect Great Britain and Ireland from invasion.
It is through the perplexities of this momentous period that we have now to follow him, and we shall do so to most advantage by taking as our clue his own avowed primary motive of action, the finding and destroying of the French fleet.