and before we are destroyed, I have little doubt but that they will have their wings so completely clipped, that they will be easily overtaken. If this event had not happened, we should have been in Naples."

Notwithstanding the accumulated honours which had so deservedly been heaped on Lord Nelson, an extraordinary gloom and depression of mind had for some time hung over him. He was dissatisfied with himself, and weary of the world. In a letter to a very old and esteemed friend, he exclaimed, "Believe me, my only wish is to sink with honour into the grave; and when that shall please God, I shall meet death with a smile. Not that I am insensible to the honours and riches my king and country have heaped upon me, so much more than any officer could deserve; yet I am ready to quit this world of trouble, and envy none but those of the estate of six feet by two."

We shall not be far from the truth, it is presumed, in saying that this irritability of mind was a consequence of the attachment which Nelson had formed to Lady Hamilton, to the entire removal of affection for his wife. This infatuation, though it had completely taken possession of his mind, could not drown conscience; that faithful monitor powerfully alarmed the soul, and Nelson was rendered miserable. It would have been well had his peace of mind -his tranquillity of conscience, been the only sacrifice made to this passion: but guilt led him onward, and we have to record an action which for ever will disgrace his name, and be a foul blot on his memory.

Captain Foote, in the Sea-horse, with the Neapolitan frigates, as before mentioned, were left in the bay of Naples, with instructions to act in conjunc No. 8.

I

tion with a few troops under Cardinal Ruffo, vicar-general to his Sicilian majesty. His orders were to co-operate, to the utmost of his power, with these royalists; but, beyond that, he received no directions whatsoever-everything was left to his own judgment and discretion. Cardinal Ruffo advanced towards Naples with his army, which was compounded of a motley group of Calabrian loyalists, slaves from the galleys, criminals from the prisons, and banditti from the mountains; trusting to the enemy's want of numbers, and ready to take advantage of any accident which might happen. The fort of St. Elmo, which commands the town of Naples, was garrisoned by French troops; and the castles of Uovo and Nuovo, which commanded the anchorage, were defended by the Neapolitan revolutionists, who, though they were hostile to the wretched measures of the government, were by no means to be classed with the French, to whose principles they were in general decidedly adverse. The cardinal, aware that if these castles were taken, the reduction of St. Elmo would be greatly expedited, and fearful of the arrival of a French fleet, which was expected, proposed to the garrisons of these towns to capitulate, on the condition that their persons and property should be guaranteed, and that they should be sent to Toulon, or, if they preferred it, they should remain at Naples without being molested, either in their persons or their families. This capitulation was agreed to, and signed by the cardinal, the Russian and Turkish commanders, and also by Captain Foote, as commander of the British force. Within thirtysix hours after the execution of the treaty, Nelson arrived in the bay, with a force of seventeen sail of the line, having one thousand seven hundred men on board, together with the Prince Royal of Naples. On his arrival, the flag of truce was flying on the castles, and on Captain Foote's ship. Nelson immediately made a signal to annul the treaty, declaring that he would grant no other terms than those of unconditional surrender, thus abolishing an agreement in which he was not concerned, and over which he could not be said to have control.

The cardinal objected to this as the violation of a positive treaty, concluded by the proper authorities, and too solemn to be set aside merely because it was the will of an individual, who had now the power of forcing other terms. Captain Foote, who was justly ashamed of a British offitcer thus unwarrantably interfering, and who endeavoured by expostulations ro avert the indelible disgrace which he foresaw would fall on his majesty's a ms by this foul deed, was ordered out of the bay; and the garrisons, taken out of the castles under pretence of carrying the treaty into effect, were basely delivered over to the vengeance of the Sicilian court.

Captain Foote had all along been dissatisfied with the conduct of Cardinal Ruffo, and had perhaps not been very willing to accede to the capitulation made with the garrisons of Uovo and Nuovo; but, as his orders were to co-operate with the cardinal, who was the representative of the King of Sicily, he would have certainly been wanting in his duty if he had refused to sign it. But having once pledged the honour of the British nation, by affixing his hand and seal to the treaty, he then became bound in honour to obey it: and with this spirit he remonstrated against any infringement of its articles. Captain Foote, in a memoir which he published some years afterwards, as a justification of his conduct on this occasion, gives the following account of his share in the transaction:

"On the evening of June 13, the cardinal, or rather the Russians, took the fort of Villena, and the bridge of Madalena. Caraccioli's gun-boats annoyed them a good deal: the weather prevented my approaching sufficiently close with the frigates; but if the galleys (with Count Thurn) had been with me, I should certainly have taken some of the gun-boats, or caused them to retreat. On the 14th the weather was bad, and it was not till the 15th, the day the gallies joined me, that I could venture so deep into the bay as the castles of Revig

liano and Castellamare, which capitulated. On the 17th, I informed the cardinal that I should immediately join the gun-boats and mortar-boats at the Piedi Grotta, with those given up at Castellamare, with a view of attacking Castle Uovo. On the night of the same day, June 17, I sent an officer to the cardinal, when he informed me that the rebels and the French, particularly the latter, had refused to capitulate to an ecclesiastic; that his means were scarcely sufficient to reduce determined and obstinate people, and that he wished me to try what I could do by offering to hearken to the terms they might have to propose.

"On the eighteenth, I sent Captain Oswald, of the Perseus, with a letter to the commandant of Castle Uovo, in the hope of its opening a way to a negotiation. The very insolent verbal answer which I received was- Nous voulons la Republique une et indivisible; nous mourons pour elle; Voila notre reponse, eloignez, vous Citoyen, vite! vite ! I made the cardinal acquainted with this, and that it was my intention to attack the castle by every means in my power; to which his excellency replied, that it was no longer time to hearken to capitulations, and that it became necessary to think seriously of attacking Fort St. Elmo.

"The next day, June 19, to my great surprise, I received a letter from the cardinal, requesting me to cease hostilities, and not to recommence them whilst the flag of truce was flying, as a negociation had taken place. The same night I sent an officer to the cardinal with the following letter :-' -I consider it my duty to inform your eminency, that so long an armistice may prove very prejudicial to the interest of his Sicilian Majesty. The only way to reduce these rebels is to fatigue them with our energy; and, by constantly attacking them, not allow them time to breathe for while we remain inactive, they form their mischievous schemes; and we have but too good reason to expect everything from their treachery, which may show itself when we least expect it. As my sovereign is a principal ally of the King of the Two Sicilies, I claim a right to be made acquainted with the subject of the present treaty, as I am extremely anxious to learn before night how I am to conduct myself; since, if the rebels are not treating for a capitulation, I see no reason why the firing on them should not recommence at sunset. I must also inform your eminency, that, after the answer I received yesterday morning, I shall not treat with those gentlemen until they beg of me to do so.'

"The cardinal sent word back: Your excellency seems to think that the delay may be dangerous; I rather believe that, in the present situation of affairs, it cannot be otherwise than favourable to us. Ever since this morning, from the moment they began to treat about a capitulation, a great many began to desert from the two castles, and amongst them forty Frenchmen at least, besides a great many Italians; and the number of fugitives will increase more and more under favour of the night. We have placed some officers round Castle Nuovo to receive these voluntary prisoners, and to assure them that they shall be forgiven; and this seems to succeed very well. And should those who have not yet fled, find the same safe reception and asylum on the water, I do believe that the French, in case of their being disposed to recommence hostilities, would find the two castles empty. We are rather afraid that the treaty may be interrupted by the castle being stormed by the people, as the castle is all open, and the Calabrese have already penetrated it. It does not appear to me, therefore, that they can entertain any reasonable hope of rendering our position less favourable by delay. As, however, the treaty is principally carried on in the name of the Russians, I send your letter to Micheroux, that he may reply as he thinks proper, to your excellency.'

"Not receiving a line from the Chevalier Micheroux, I informed the cardinal that I thought nothing could be more prejudicial to the interests of his Sicilian

Majesty, than the having such a multiplicity of chiefs; and that I knew of no other than his eminency, who was specially charged with the interests of the King of Naples, and that I could act with no other person. The cardinal told the officer whom I sent that he knew nothing of what was going on; that he stood in great need of the Russians: that he would not give them the least ground of complaint; and that it was the Russians who conducted the treaty. On the 19th, I received a project of a capitulation, already signed by the cardinal and the chief of the Russians; with a request that I would put my name to it. In answer, I informed the cardinal that I had done so because I considered him as the confidential agent of his Sicilian Majesty; and that some advantage would result from the capitulation, otherwise he would not have signed it but I could not say that I approved of such a manner of treating, and that I could not be answerable for its consequences. I also made some observations relative to St. Elmo's capitulating. At length, on the 22nd, I received a letter from the Chevalier Micheroux with the capitulation in form, already signed by the cardinal and the chief of the Russians. I replied to the Chevalier Micheroux, that I had signed where he had pointed out; but that I protested against everything that could be in the least contrary to the honour and rights of my sovereign, and of the British nation. I signed this capitulation, lest on a reverse of fortune, on the arrival of the enemy's fleet, it might have been asserted that my refusal was the cause of such misfortunes as might occur, and because I considered that the cardinal was acquainted with the will and intention of his sovereign; and the Count Thurn had told me that the Chevalier Micheroux was authorised to act in a diplomatique character. I never was consulted relative to the capitulation; and I had neither instructions nor any document to assist or guide me."

Among other personages of distinction who had been compelled to take shelter in these castles, was Prince Francisco Caraccioli, descended from a younger branch of one of the noblest Neapolitan families: he had accompanied the court to Sicily; but when the new republican government had issued orders for all the absent Neapolitans to return, on pain of the forfeiture of their property, the king had given him permission to return, only stipulating that he should take no part in politics. He was, however, before long discovered commanding the navy against his sovereign; but he himself asserted, in which he was confirmed by the enemy, that they had compelled him to act in this manner, contrary to his wishes and inclination; and actually to serve as a private soldier until he consented to take the command.

When it became evident that the king would again recover possession of Naples, Prince Caraccioli applied to Cardinal Ruffo, and expressed hope that the few days during which he had been reluctantly compelled to command against his sovereign, would not outweigh his former services of forty years' duration, during which he had always shown himself faithful to the interests of his master. As he did not immediately receive those assurances of protection which he expected, he endeavoured to secrete himself till some favourable opportunity offered for him to make his peace; but a price being set upon his head, he was discovered in the disguise of a peasant, and hurried on board Nelson's ship, with his hands tied behind him.

Captain Hardy immediately ordered his illustrious prisoner to be unbound, and treated him, as far as was consistent with his situation, with every respect and attention. Nelson, as soon as he was informed of the arrest of the prince, dispatched the following order to Count Thurn, commander of his Sicilian Majesty's frigate, the Minerva, to assemble a court-martial of Neapolitan officers on board his Britannic Majesty's ship.

"Whereas Francesco Carraccioli, a commodore in the service of his Sicilian

Majesty, has been taken, and stands accused of rebellion against his lawful sovereign, and for firing at his colours hoisted on board his frigate la Minerva, under your command; you are, therefore, hereby required and directed to assemble five of the senior officers under your command, yourself presiding, and proceed to inquire whether the crime of which the said Francesco Caraccioli stands charged, can be proved against him; and if the charge is proved, you are to report to me what punishment he ought to suffer.

"Given on board the Foudroyant, Naples Bay, June 29th, 1799.

"NELSON."

The eager haste which was shown to condemn this unfortunate prince must strike every feeling mind with disgust. He came on board at nine in the morning; the trial began at ten, and lasted till twelve. In vain did the prince aver in his defence that he had acted under compulsion, and that nothing but necessity induced him to take the command of the fleet. Caraccioli was found guilty, and sentenced to death; the report of which being communicated to Nelson, he signed the warrant for its being carried into effect the same evening, by hanging the prisoner at the yard-arm of a Sicilian frigate. Caraccioli, through Lieutenant Parkinson, to whose custody he was committed, endeavoured to prevail on Nelson to grant him a new trial. Many reasons were urged in support of this request one was, that Count Thurn was notoriously the personal enemy of the accused. The intercession was of no avail, and indeed it could hardly be expected that it would; the hostility of the presiding judge to the prisoner was perfectly in accordance with the rest of the bloody proceeding. The prince, as a favour, entreated that he might be shot: he said, "I am now an old man" (he was upwards of seventy); "I leave no family to lament me, and therefore cannot be supposed to be very anxious about prolonging my life; but the digrace of being hanged is dreadful to me."

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Caraccioli then inquired of the lieutenant whether an application to Lady Hamilton would be of avail. That lady, however, was not to be found, though it is stated she was in the cabin the whole of the time, and contrived to grace the execution with her presence. This scene took place at five o'clock the same evening; and as if to carry revenge to its farthest pitch, the body was denied the common rites of sepulture, and thrown into the sea.

"Of

Mr. Clarke, in his Life of Nelson, thus apologises for Lady Hamilton. her being present at the execution of Caraccioli, there cannot be the least doubt, but it is to be hoped, for the honour of her sex, and of her country, that she neither directly, or indirectly, encouraged that vindictive spirit, which too much prevailed the councils of the king, and the administration of the Neapolitan state junto, after his majesty had returned to Palermo.

"Emma Lady Hamilton, one of the most extraordinary women of her age, amidst all her faults, was more noted for her general attention and hospitality, than for any deliberate acts of cruelty towards the Neapolitans, by whom she was in general adored. In the voluptuous court of the Sicilian monarch, her fascinating person commanded a very powerful influence; but in a situation of so much delicacy and danger, she never forgot the character that was expected from the wife of an English ambassador, nor was deficient in any of those courtesies and friendly attentions which mark a liberal and humane disposition. From the arrival of the British squadron at Naples, she had exerted herself to support that good cause for which Admiral Nelson had been detached; and having in this respect rendered some service, the natural vanity of her mind led her to imagine, and to endeavour to make the noble admiral and others believe, that from her alone proceeded the means of performing those great events which threw such a splendour on the favourite object of her idolatry. Her leading passion was the love of celebrity; and it was this passion, added