to call for public acknowledgment, his Imperial Majesty, the Powerful, Formidable and most Magnificent Grand Seignior, has destined as a present in his Imperial name to the said admiral, a diamond aigrette, and a sable fur with broad sleeves; besides 2,000 zequins to be distributed among the wounded of his crew. And as the English minister is constantly zealous to contribute by his endeavours to the increase of friendship between the two Courts, it is hoped he will not fail to make known this circumstance to his Court, and to solicit the permission of the most Powerful, and most August King of England, for the said admiral to put on and wear the said aigrette and pelisse.'

وو

In addition to this mark of honour, which was more especially distinguished by the aigrette being taken from one of the royal turbans, the Grand Seignior established an order of knighthood, styled the Order of the Crescent, and Sir Horatio Nelson was made the first Knight Companion of it; and several medals of the order were struck, and presented to the officers.

The mother of the Grand Seignior presented to Nelson at the same time a box set round with diamonds, which was valued at 1,000l. The Czar Paul of Russia also sent him his picture set in diamonds, and wrote him a letter with his own hand. A box set round with diamonds was also given to him by the King of Sardinia.

The news was received in England on the 2d of October, and created the most extravagant joy. General illuminations were continued throughout the country for three days. Nelson was raised to the peerage by the title of Baron Nelson of the Nile, and of Burnham Thorpe: a pension of 2,000l. was granted him for his own life and that of his two immediate successors; and a grant of arms was given to him expressive of his great achievements, and of the honours he had received from the Sublime Porte. The motto was chosen for him by Lord Grenville, and never was one more appropriate-Palmam qui meruit ferat.

Both Houses of the British and Irish Parliaments unanimously voted him their thanks. Gold medals were struck by order of the King, and given to Lord Nelson and the captains engaged under him; and the first lieutenants of the ships which were engaged were immediately promoted.

Nor was the gratitude of the country at large less distinguished than that of the Government. The East India Company voted a grant of 10,000l. to Lord Nelson the Turkish Company presented him with a piece of plate; and the City of London gave a sword to him, and each of his captains.

A few days after the battle, Nelson was joined by four frigates, which, if they had arrived before, would have been invaluable to him; now they only brought him dispatches, which caused him to proceed without delay to Naples. Before he departed from Egypt, he burnt three of his prizes, and sent home the remaining six under Sir James Saumarez: then, having left Captain Hood in the Zealous, off Alexandria, with the Swiftsure, Goliah, Alcmema, and Emerald, he himself stood out to sea on the 17th day after the battle.

The delight which the intelligence of the battle of the Nile had created at Naples is indescribable. Captain Cape, who arrived there in the Mutine with the news, said, in a letter to Nelson, "I am totally unable to express the joy that appeared in every countenance, and the bursts of applause and acclamation we received. The Queen and Lady Hamilton fainted; in short, sir, they all hail you as the saviour of Europe."

In writing to his wife, Admiral Nelson said, "The kingdom of the Two Sicilies is mad with joy: from the throne to the peasant all are alike. According to Lady Hamilton's letter, the situation of the Queen was truly pitiable; I only hope I shall not have to be a witness to a renewal of it. I give you Lady Hamilton's own words. How shall I describe the transports of the Queen? It is not possible: she cried, kissed her husband, her children, walked frantic about

the room, cried, kissed and embraced every person near her, exclaiming, O brave Nelson! O God bless and protect our deliverer! O Nelson, Nelson, what do we not owe you! O victor, saviour of Italy! O that my swoln heart could now tell him personally what we owe to him.'

"You may judge, Fanny, of the rest, but my head will not allow me to tell you half; so much for that. My fag, without success, would have had no effect, but blessed be God for his goodness to me.'

وو

In another letter to Lady Nelson, he describes the extraordinary attentions which were paid to him on his arrival at Naples:

"The poor wretched Vanguard arrived here on the 22d September. I must endeavour to convey to you something of what passed; but if it were so affecting to those who were only united to me by bonds of friendship, what must it be to my dearest wife, my friend, my everything that is most dear to me in this world. Sir Wm. and Lady Hamilton came out to sea, attended by numerous boats, with emblems, &c. They, my most respectable friends, had been laid up, and seriously ill, first from anxiety, and then from joy. It was imprudently told Lady Hamilton in a moment, and the effect was like a shot; she fell apparently dead, and is not yet perfectly recovered from severe bruises. Alongside came my honoured friends, the scene in the boat was terribly affecting; up flew her ladyship, and exclaiming, 'O God, is it possible!' she fell into my arm more dead than alive. Tears, however, soon set matters to rights: when alongside came the King. The scene was in its way as interesting; he took me by the hand, called me his deliverer and preserver, with every expression of kindness. In short all Naples call me Nostro Liberatore: my greeting from the lower classes was truly affecting. I hope some day to have the pleasure of introducing you to Lady Hamilton; she is one of the very best women in this world; she is an honour to her sex. Her kindness, with Sir William's, to me, is more than I can express. I am in their house, and I may now tell you it required all the kindness of my friends to set me up. Lady Hamilton intends writing to you. May God Almighty bless you, and give us, in due time, a happy meeting."

CHAPTER V.

MUCH has been written with respect to the manner in which Nelson spent his time in Naples. Prior to his arrival there, he discovered a dislike to visit that city; in a letter to Lord St. Vincent, he says of his voyage thither-"I detest it; and nothing but absolute necessity could force me to the measure. Syracuse in future, whilst my operations lie on the eastern side of Sicily, is my port, where every refreshment may be had for a fleet." And subsequent to his arrival, he thus writes" It is a country of fiddlers and poets, whores and scoundrels." But the charms and fascinations of Lady Hamilton won on his heart.

The birth-day of Nelson occurring a little after his arrival, furnished an occasion for a fete, which was given by Lady Hamilton. In a letter of Nelson's to his lady, bearing date September 28th, 1798, he says-"The preparations of Lady Hamilton for celebrating my birth-day, to-morrow, are enough to fill me with vanity; every ribbon, every button has Nelson, &c. The whole service is marked II. N. glorious first of August. Songs and sonnetti are numerous beyond what I ever could deserve. I send the additional verse to God save the King,' as I know you will sing it with pleasure. I cannot move on foot, or in a carriage, for the kindness of the populace; but good Lady Hamilton preserves all the papers as the highest treat for you." Eighteen hundred persons are said to have been entertained at this fête, which consisted of a hall and supper, and cost Sir William Hamilton two thousand ducats.

At this festive scene an altercation took place between Nelson and his son-inlaw, which might have proved of serious consequence, but for the timely interference of Captain Trowbridge and another officer, who conveyed the young man out of the room. This circumstance has been variously commented upon by the historians of Nelson. Lady Hamilton bore a conspicuous part in the transaction, and it is said that a reconciliation with his father-in-law was owing to her kindly interference; but it is somewhat singular that this woman, so far from showing such a generous disposition, that everything was done to render his situation uncomfortable both at this and every subsequent period. Nelson, however, exhibited a strong attachment to his son-in-law, for shortly after the above affair, in a letter to his lady, he mentions Josiah as having a "heart as good and humane as ever was covered with a human breast," adding "God bless him, I love him dearly with all his roughness."

It was a judicious act on the part of Nelson in sending overland to England a duplicate of his dispatches, as will appear from the sequel. The Leander, of fifty guns, Captain Thompson, having Captain Berry on board, charged with dispatches to the commander-in-chief, fell in on the 16th of August, being off the Island of Candia, with the Genereux, one of the ships which had escaped from the battle of the Nile, after the engagement. She stood with a fine breeze towards the Leander, which unfortunately was becalmed, with eighty men short of her complement, and a number of wounded on board. Under these circumstances Captain Thompson did not think himself justified in seeking an action with an enemy so much his superior in point of size and force. He accordingly availed himself of all the means in his power to avoid it: but soon found, from No. 7.

H

the Leander's inferiority of sailing, that it would be next to impossible to escape. All sail was immediately set, and he steered such a course as was judged would enable him to receive his adversary to the best advantage. At eight o'clock in the morning, the Genereux, being then to windward, had approached within random shot of the Leander, with Neapolitan colours, which she then changed to French. Captain Thompson, not deceived by this artifice, had been convinced for some time that she belonged to the latter nation. At nine, she was within half gun shot of the Leander's weather quarter, when her commander hauled up sufficiently to bring his broadside to bear, and immediately commenced a vigorous cannonade, which was returned. The ships continued nearing each other till half-past ten, keeping up a constant and heavy fire. The enemy had availed himself of the disabled condition of the Leander, to lay her on board on the larboard bow; but a most spirited and well-directed fire from the small party of marines on the poop and quarter deck, supported by a furious cannonade, prevented the enemy from taking advantage of his situation, and he was repulsed with great slaughter.

A light breeze giving the ships way, enabled Captain Thompson to disentangle himself from the enemy; and soon after he had the satisfaction to luff under his stern, and, passing within ten yards, discharged every gun into him. The action was continued, without intermission, within pistol-shot, till half-past three in the afternoon, when the enemy, with a light breeze, passed the Leander's bows, and brought himself on her starboard side, where the guns had been nearly all disabled from the wreck of the spars, which had fallen on that side. As this produced a cessation of fire on her part, the enemy hailed to inquire if she had surrendered! The Leander was completely ungovernable, being an entire wreck, having nothing standing, save the shattered remains of the fore and mainmasts, and the bowsprit; her hull was cut to pieces, and her decks full of killed and wounded. In this defenceless situation, Captain Thompson, who was himself severely wounded, and without even the slightest hopes of success, inquired of Captain Berry if he thought more could be done. Captain Berry coinciding in the opinion that farther resistance would be vain and impracticable, he directed an answer to be given in the affirmative, and the enemy took possession of the Leander forthwith. The French ship was commanded by M. Lejoille, of 74 guns, and had on board nine hundred men, of whom 100 were killed, and 188 wounded in the conflict. The Leander had 35 killed, and 58 wounded.

Captain Thompson, and his officers, on being conveyed aboard the Genereux, were plundered of every article belonging to them, save the clothes they wore. In vain they expostulated with the French captain, against such rude treatment; and when they reminded him of the situation of the French officers, made prisoners by Admiral Nelson, in comparison with those now taken in the Leander, he coolly replied, "I am sorry for it, but the fact is, the French are expert at plunder," and then to give proof that this was not mere empty assertion, he secured to himself a brace of pistols belonging to Captain Berry, promising that gallant individual a brace of French pistols to protect him on his journey home; but which promise was never performed. The inhumanity of the barbarians was carried to such a pitch, that at the very moment when the surgeon of the Leander was performing an operation upon Captain Thompson, they stole his instruments! Various other acts of cruelty were practised by the rascals upon these brave fellows, even after their arrival at Corfu.

It will be deemed of interest to peruse the official account of the battle of the Nile, and the exploit upon the present occasion, as given by Lejoille himself. His letter is dated Corfu, Sept. 3rd, 1798, and he says, "I have the pleasure to announce to you my arrival at Corfu. I have been here for some days past, having brought in the English ship, Leander, of 74 guns, which I met near the

islands of Gaza and Candia, near a mile from the shore. This ship had been sent with despatches from Bequieres (Aboukir) Road, where the English had attacked us on the 1st of August. We were at anchor, but in a position certainly not very secure for our squadrons; of this bad situation they took advantage, and having placed us between two fires, a most dreadful slaughter took place, the ships not being at a greater distance than pistol-shot, and at anchor. From the circumstance of the wind, with relation to the English ships, we should have been superior in the contest, if L'Orient, our admiral's ship, had not blown up, which threw us all into disorder: as, to avoid the flames, which had already reached Le Tonnant, every vessel was obliged to shift her station. Having, however, placed my ship in a situation favourable to the direction of her guns, I fought her till three in the morning of the day following that, on which, at ten in the evening, L'Orient blew up.

By a singular accident, I missed having a broadside at Captain Darby, who sailed with us in the last war from the Cape of Good Hope to Cadiz. His ship, the Bellerophon, of 74 guns, sailed past me about half-past ten in the evening, having lost her main and mizen-masts. I fired three guns at her, which carried away the mast she was hoisting, and struck away one of the lanthorns off the poop.

"I immediately ordered one of my officers to go in pursuit of, and to bring on board my ship, the captain of this vessel; but half an hour afterwards, when I was about to send my boat on board her, the fire from several English ships compelled me rather to think of answering their guns than of taking possession of the other ship; and the slow manner in which the officer whom I had dispatched, proceeded to execute my orders, was the cause of my failing to take possession of her.

"As to the Leander, I was obliged to fight with her for nearly four hours and three quarters. She carries seventy-four guns, 24 and 30-pounders, on her lower deck, and 12-pounders on her upper. I should have made myself master of her in less than an hour, had we been at close fighting. During the engagement we boarded her; I should have succeeded in carrying her by boarding, had I had a more active crew.

"LEJOILLE, Jun."

During Nelson's continuance at Naples, he dispatched the Terpsichore to Malta, for the purpose of gaining such intelligence as might enable him to form the best plan for its capture, which was soon joined by Captain Ball, in the Alexander, with a frigate and sloop, to cruise off the island, which was then under the blockade of the Portuguese squadron.

The victory of the Nile, and the consequent disasters to which it exposed Bonaparte, induced Austria to involve herself in a fresh war, in the hope of subduing the French kingdom. In this design the Neapolitan government joined, engaging to raise an army of eighty thousand men. General Mack, the noted commander, was at the head of these troops. Of this general, Nelson thus expressed himself" General Mack cannot move without five carriages. I have formed my opinion-I heartily pray I may be mistaken." Nelson's opinion, however, was abundantly verified. For fear of a miscarriage in the plans of the Neapolitans, it was arranged for Nelson to forego a plan he had formed of proceeding to the shores of Egypt, in order to destroy the shipping in that quarter, and remain with his squadron on the coast of Naples, their majesties thinking themselves safer with such precautionary measures.

Upon this agreement Mack was to march " with thirty thousand of the finest troops in Europe," to Rome. In a council held at the camp of St. Germaine's, it was agreed to take possession of Leghorn, and not a moment was lost by Nelson in preparing for that expedition. Possession was soon taken of the town and fortress of Leghorn, and the troops landed. Meanwhile the Neapo