The very next day, he sent into Malta, by Captain Ball, the following
admirable and most spirited letter, addressed to the French General and
Admiral commanding in the town of Valetta and fort of Malta. It
breathes, throughout, that liberal and manly spirit which so highly
distinguishes our hero, and which conveys to the heart such irresistible
proofs of honour and veracity.
"His Britannic Majesty's Ship Vanguard,
off Malta,
25th Oct. 1798.
"GENTLEMEN,
"In addressing to you this letter, containing my determination
respecting the French now in Malta, I feel confident that you will
not attribute it either to insolence or impertinent curiosity, but
a wish of my sentiments clearly understood. The present situation
of Malta is this: the inhabitants are in possession of all the
island; except the town of Valetta, which is in your
possession--that the islanders are in arms against you--and, that
the port is blockaded by a squadron belonging to his Britannic
majesty. My objects are, to assist the people of Malta in forcing
you to abandon the island, that it may be delivered into the hands
of it's lawful sovereign; and, to get possession of Le Guillaume
Tell, La Diane, and La Justice. To accomplish these objects as
speedily as possible, I offer that, on the delivery of the French
ships to me, all the troops and seamen, now in Malta and Goza,
shall be landed in France, without the condition of their being
prisoners of war; that I will take care that the lives of all those
Maltese who have joined you shall be spared, and I offer my
mediation with their sovereign for the restoration of their
property. Should these offers be rejected; or the French ships make
their escape, notwithstanding my vigilance; I declare, that I will
not enter, or join, any capitulation, which the general may
hereafter be forced to enter into, with the inhabitants of Malta;
much less will I intercede for the forgiveness of those who have
betrayed their duty to their country. I beg leave to assure you,
this is the determination of a British admiral; and I have the
honour to be, gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant,
"Horatio Nelson."
Though this notice was not successful to the full extent of his wish, it
seems to have accelerated the surrender of Goza. In the mean time, all
possible aid was given to the Maltese; who, it appears, had been
shockingly neglected by the Neapolitan government. In a letter of the
27th, addressed to Sir William Hamilton, the indignant hero enlarges on
this topic with a feeling and energy incomparably expressive of his
heroic and independent character.
"When I come to Naples, I can have nothing pleasant to say of the
conduct of his Sicilian majesty's ministers towards the inhabitants
of Malta, who wish to be under the dominion of their legitimate
sovereign. The total neglect and indifference with which they have
been treated, appears to me cruel in the extreme. Had not the
English supplied fifteen hundred stand of arms, with bayonets,
cartouch boxes, and ammunition, &c. and the marquis supplied some
few, and kept the spirit of those brave islanders from falling off,
they must long ago have bowed to the French yoke. Could you, my
dear Sir William, have believed, after what General Acton and the
Marquis De Gallo had said, in our various conversations relative to
this island, that nothing had been sent by the governor of
Syracuse--_secretly_, was the word used to us--or openly, to this
island! and I am further assured, that the governor of Syracuse
never had any orders sent him, to supply the smallest article. I
beg your excellency will state this, in confidence, to General
Acton. I shall most assuredly tell it the king. The justice I owe
myself, now I feel employed in the service of their Sicilian
majesties, demands it of me; and also the duty I owe our gracious
king, in order to shew that I am doing my utmost to comply with his
royal commands. As I have before stated, had it not been for the
English, long, long ago, the Maltese must have been overpowered.
Including the fifteen hundred stand of arms given by us, not more
than three thousand are in the island. I wonder how they have kept
on the defensive so long. At least, two thousand stand of small
arms complete, ammunition, &c. should be sent by the Emerald. This
is wanted, to defend themselves; for offence, two or three large
mortars, fifteen hundred shells, with all necessaries; and,
perhaps, a few artillery. The Bormola, and all the left side of the
harbour, with this assistance, will fall. Ten thousand men are
required to defend those works, the French can only spare twelve
hundred; therefore, a vigorous assault being made in many parts,
some one must succeed. But, who have the government of Naples sent,
to lead or encourage these people? A very good, and I dare say
brave, old man; enervated, and shaking with the palsy. This is the
sort of man that they have sent; without any supply, without even a
promise of protection, and without his bringing any answer to the
repeated respectful memorials of these people to their sovereign. I
know their majesties must feel hurt, when they hear these truths. I
may be thought presuming; but, I trust, General Acton will forgive
an honest seaman for telling plain truths. _As for the other
minister, I do not understand him._ We are different men. He has
been bred in a court; and I, in a rough element: but, I believe, my
heart is as susceptible of the finer feelings as his, and as
compassionate for the distress of those who look up to me for
protection."
Having thus very justly and indignantly censured the Neapolitan
government; particularly, the then first minister, the Marquis De Gallo;
he proceeds most judiciously and forcibly to state, not only what ought
to have been done, but what still should be attempted. In doing this, he
has admirably sketched the characteristic outlines of a good commander.
"The officer sent here should have brought supplies, promises of
protection, and an answer from the king to their memorials. He
should have been a man of judgment, bravery, and _activity_. He
should be the first to lead them to glory; and the last, when
necessary, to retreat: the first to mount the wall of the Bormola,
and never to quit it. This is the man to send. Such, many such, are
to be found. If he succeeds, promise him rewards: my life for it,
the business would soon be over.
"God bless you! I am anxious to get this matter finished. I have
sent Ball, this day, to summon Goza; if it resists, I shall send on
shore, and batter down the castle. Three vessels, loaded with
bullocks, &c. for the garrison, were taken yesterday, from Tripoli:
ten more are coming, but we shall have them. I had almost forgot to
mention, that orders should be immediately given, that no
quarantine be laid on boats going to the coast of Sicily for corn.
At present, as a matter of favour, they have fourteen days only.
Yesterday, there was only fourteen days bread in the island;
luckily, we got hold of a vessel loaded with wheat, and sent her
into St. Paul's. Once more, God bless you! and ever believe me,
your obliged and affectionate
"Horatio Nelson.
"This day I have landed twenty barrels of gunpowder--two thousand
eight hundred pounds--at Malta."
The Island of Goza, in consequence of the summons mentioned in this
letter, surrendered to his majesty's arms: and Admiral Nelson, in the
evening of the 30th, having received particulars of the capitulation
from Captain Ball, sailed again for Naples; leaving that excellent
officer, the present Sir John Alexander Ball, Governor of Malta, to
continue the blockade, with the same ships as were before employed on
that service.
These particulars were, on the 2d of November, forwarded to the
commander in chief; with the following letter, by which they are here
preceded.
"Vanguard,
at Sea,
1st Nov. 1798.
"MY LORD,
"I have the honour to transmit to you a letter received from
Captain Ball, dated October 30th, together with the capitulation of
the Castle of Goza, and a list of ordnance, &c. found in it. The
prisoners are embarked in the Vanguard and Minotaur, till I can get
a vessel to send them to France. Captain Ball, with three sail of
the line, a frigate, and fire-ship, is entrusted with the blockade
of Malta, in which are two sail of the line and three frigates
ready for sea; and, from the experience I have had of Captain
Ball's zeal, activity, and ability, I have no doubt that, in due
time, I shall have the honour of sending you a good account of the
French in the town of Valetta. I am, with the greatest respect,
your lordship's most obedient servant,
"Horatio Nelson." "Earl of St. Vincent."
"Alexander,
off Malta,
30th Oct. 1798.
"SIR,
"I have the honour to acquaint you, that the commandant of the
French troops in the Castle of Goza signed the capitulation on the
28th inst. which you had approved. I ordered Captain Cresswell of
the Marines to take possession of it in the name of his Britannic
Majesty, and his majesty's colours were hoisted. The next day, the
place was delivered up, in form, to the deputies of the island, his
Sicilian Majesty's colours hoisted, and he acknowledged their
lawful sovereign.
"I embarked, yesterday, all the French officers and men who were on
the Island of Goza, amounting to two hundred and seventeen. I
inclose the Articles of Capitulation, and an Inventory of the Arms
and Ammunition found in the Castle; part of which, I directed to be
sent to the assistance of the Maltese who are in arms against the
French. There were three thousand two hundred sacks of corn in the
castle; which will be a great relief to the inhabitants, who are
much in want of that article. I have the honour to be, &c.
"Alex. John Ball."
"Rear-Admiral Sir H. Nelson, K.B."
"_Articles of Capitulation, between Alexander John Ball, Esq.
Captain of his Majesty's Ship the Alexander, appointed to conduct
the Blockade of Malta, under Rear-Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson, K.B.
on the Part of Great Britain; and Lieutenant-Colonel Lockey, Aju.
de Battailon, Commander of the French Troops in the Castle of
Goza_.
"1.
"The French troops shall march out of the Castle of Goza with the
honours of war, and shall lay down their arms as they get out of
the gate.
"2.
"The Castle of Goza, with all the military implements and stores,
shall be delivered up to the British officer appointed to take
charge of them.
"3
"The French officers and troops shall be protected in their persons
and effects, and the officers allowed to retain their side-arms.
They shall be embarked, immediately, on board his Britannic
majesty's ships; and sent to France, in transports, at the expence
of the French government They are not to serve against his
Britannic majesty, or his allies, during the war, till regularly
exchanged.
"Rear-Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson, K.B. has entered into articles
with the inhabitants of Goza, that if the French surrender to the
British, they shall be considered as under their protection, and
they will not offer them the smallest insult or molestation.
"Signed, 28th Oct.
1798.
"Alexander John Ball,
Captain of his Britannic Majesty's
Ship Alexander.
"Approved,
"Lockey, Aju. de Battailon.
Horatio Nelson."
"_Extract of Articles found in the Castle of Goza, the 28th of
October_ 1798.
"Fifty barrels of powder, nine thousand ball-cartridges, one
thousand musket-cartridges without ball, one thousand flints,
thirty-eight eighteen-pound cartridges filled, one hundred and
forty twelve-pound ditto, four hundred and fifty six-pound ditto,
two hundred and sixty-eight four-pound ditto, twenty-five
three-pound ditto, eighty-eight two-pound ditto, eighteen good
eighteen-pounder guns and two hundred shot, two good twelve-pounder
guns and nine hundred shot, four good six-pounders and two thousand
nine hundred and eighty-five shot, four hundred hand-grenades
filled, ninety-nine pikes, ninety halberts, and three thousand two
hundred sacks of corn.
"N.B. No small-arms, except those laid down by the French troops."
On the 12th of November, Admiral Nelson, having a few days before
arrived safely at Naples, went to the camp at St. Germaine's, in
consequence of a request from his Sicilian Majesty, to meet General
Mack and General Acton, at a grand review of the whole Neapolitan army;
and Sir William and Lady Hamilton, with all the English nobility and
gentry then at Naples, accompanied our hero, where they joined the king,
queen, and royal family. The account of this meeting, and it's results,
including an intended attack of Leghorn, are sufficiently explained in
the following very interesting letter to Earl Spencer: which is farther
remarkable for being the first epistle that our hero appears to have
ever signed with the omission of his Christian name, in consequence of
being advanced to the peerage; of which honour he had, even yet, it
should seem, by what will be seen hereafter, no official information
from the noble earl to whom he was writing, though he must certainly
have received some regular previous information on the subject.
"Camp,
St. Germaine's,
13th Nov. 1798.
"MY LORD,
"A desire from his majesty called me here yesterday, to concert
with General Mack and General Acton the commencement of the war.
Thirty thousand of--_Mack says--"La plus belle d'armie d'Europe_,"
was drawn out, for me to see; and, as far as my judgment goes in
these matters, I agree, that a finer army cannot be. In the
evening, we had a council; and it was settled, that four thousand
infantry, and six hundred cavalry, should take possession of
Leghorn. The infantry--(having stopped Captain Troubridge's
squadron for Corfu)--I shall embark in the Vanguard, Culloden,
Minotaur, two Portuguese ships, (if I can get them ready, not that
I see they have any wants) and the Alliance storeship. A Neapolitan
ship brings the cavalry, in a convoy, after us. The king's order
for the destination was to be given to me; and, when at sea, I was
to give it to the general commanding the troops: who was to be
totally ignorant, that Leghorn was the object, and not Malta;
which, as a secret, was communicated to him. His majesty approved
of this plan, and Mack was to march--I repeat it with
pleasure--"with thirty thousand of the finest troops in Europe," on
Saturday, the 17th, to Rome; and keep advancing, trusting to the
support of the emperor. Every hour, the French are increasing their
Italian army, and two new generals are arrived at Rome. Thus I went
to bed last night; and, at six this morning, came to take leave of
their majesties. I found them in great distress. The courier who
left London on the 4th, has not brought any assurance of support
from the emperor. M. Turget is evasive; and wishes, he says, the
French to be the aggressors. It is aggression, if this court
knows--all the world knows--that the French are collecting an army
to over-run Naples; in a week, destroy the monarchy; plunder, and
make it a republic. As this is fully known; surely, it is an
aggression of the most serious nature. The emperor's troops have
not yet been in the habits of retaking kingdoms; and it is easier
to destroy, than restore. I ventured to tell their majesties,
directly, that one of the following things must happen to the King,
and he had his choice--"Either advance, trusting to God for his
blessing on a just cause, to die with _l'epée a la main_; or remain
quiet, and be kicked out of your kingdom." The king replied, that
he would go on, and trust in God; and desired me to stay till noon,
to consult with Mack on this new face of affairs.
"November 15. I came from the king after dinner; and their
majesties both told me, that things stood precisely as they did
before the receipt of the dispatches from London and Vienna. There
was, evidently, a great disappointment at not getting money from
England. That they want, is certain; nor do the ministers, I
believe, know how to get it. Their paper money is at forty per
cent. discount. I long ago told the queen, I did not think Mr. Pitt
would go to parliament, and ask money of the country, in the
present moment; that, if England saw every exertion made, in this
country, to save themselves, John Bull was never backward in
supporting his friends in distress. Good God, my lord, can the
emperor submit to this!
"November 18. Last evening, Lady Hamilton received a letter from
the queen, full of the idea that money was indispensable: and
desired her ladyship to shew it to me; and, that I would say what I
saw. That I can do, very soon. I see the finest country in the
world, full of resources; yet, without enough to supply the public
wants: all are plundering, who can get at public money or stores.
In my own line, I can speak. A Neapolitan ship of the line would
cost more than ten English ships fitting out. Five sail of the line
must ruin the country. Every thing else is, I have no doubt, going
on in the same system of thieving: I could give your lordship so
many instances of the greatest mal-conduct of persons in office,
and of those very people being rewarded. If money could be placed
in the public chest at this moment, I believe it would be well
used: for the sad thing in this country is, that although much is
raised, yet very little reaches the public chest. I will give you a
fact--When the order of Jesuits was suppressed in this country and
Sicily, they possessed very large estates: although these, with
every other part of their property, were seized by the crown; yet,
to this moment, not one farthing has reached the public chest. On
the contrary, some years, the pretended expence of management was
more than the produce. Taxes have been sold for sums of money;
which, now, are five times more than when sold. This, it is true,
was done by viceroys, to please their distant masters. But, I am
tiring your patience. In short, their majesties look to us for
every succour; and, without it, they are undone.
"I have wrote to the Turkish and Russian admirals, and shall take
care to keep on the very best footing with all the allied powers.
"Believe me, your lordship's most obedient and obliged servant,
"Nelson."
At this Neapolitan review, a curious circumstance is said to have
occurred. By some mistake of General Mack's, in directing the operations
of a feigned fight, it so happened that his own troops were completely
surrounded by those of the enemy; when Lord Nelson, vexed at the
unfortunate and inauspicious blunder, immediately exclaimed, to his
surrounding friends--"This fellow does not understand his business!"
It having been agreed, in a council held at the camp of St. Germaine's,
as suggested in the foregoing letter, to take possession of Leghorn, not
a moment was lost, by Lord Nelson, in preparing for that expedition. The
King and Queen of Naples, affected by the very indifferent state of his
lordship's health, and fearing that the exertion might prove too much
for their chief protector, wished him to remain at Naples. When the
queen, accordingly, through the medium of Lady Hamilton, advised him to
send the troops; he instantly directed her to inform her majesty, that
it was his custom, in order to succeed, not to say--"Go!" but--"Let us
go!"
Such was the dispatch used on this occasion, that all the troops were
embarked, and his lordship sailed from the Bay of Naples, on the 22d
instant. The Vanguard, Culloden, Minotaur, and Alliance, were the only
British ships, on board of which were about two thousand seven hundred
soldiers; and, in the Portuguese Principe Real, Albuquerque, and St.
Sebastian, two thousand four hundred. In all, five thousand, one hundred
and twenty-three. As it blew a strong gale all that night, and the
following day, none but the British kept company with the Vanguard,
which arrived in Leghorn Road on the 28th.
The ministers of their Majesties of Great Britain and of the Two
Sicilies, the Honourable William Windham and the Duke Di Sangro,
immediately going on board the Vanguard, and being of opinion that a
summons in the name of Admiral Lord Nelson, as well as that of the
Neapolitan General Naselli, would be proper, the following was instantly
prepared.
"We, the commanders of the troops of the King of the Two Sicilies,
and of the squadron of his Britannic Majesty, now before Leghorn,
demand of the Governor of Leghorn the free and instant admission of
his Sicilian Majesty's troops into the town and fortress of
Leghorn, and every thing thereunto depending. If you refuse, we
have power to enforce our just demand; which will, undoubtedly,
instantly be done.
"Naselli, General.
"Nelson, Rear-Admiral."
Captain Troubridge, accompanied by the two ministers, went on shore
with this summons: and he returned, at eight in the evening, with a
capitulation signed; in consequence of which the troops were immediately
landed, and possession taken of the town and fortress of Leghorn.
On the following day, the Portuguese squadron also arrived, and landed
the remainder of the troops. In the mean time, the Neapolitan general
refused to seize the French vessels at Leghorn, under pretence that the
King of Naples was not at war with France; and the Neapolitan minister,
the Duke Di Sangro, was likewise weak enough to maintain the same
opinion. The vexation which these impolitic scrupulosities occasioned in
the superior mind of our decided hero, is difficult to be described. He
saw the destructive tendency of such mental imbecility, and trembled for
the fate of a country which was condemned to be thus served. His
lordship's feelings will be best conceived, by his own account of what
passed in his anxious bosom on the occasion, thus addressed to Mr.
Windham.
Vanguard, 30th Nov. 1798.
"MY DEAR SIR,
"I have been thinking, all night, of the General Naselli and the
Duke Di Sangro's saying that the King of Naples had not declared
war against the French. Now, I assert, that he has; and, in a much
stronger manner than the ablest minister in Europe could write a
declaration of war. Has not the king received, as a conquest made
by him, the republican flag taken at Goza? Is not the king's flag
flying there, and at Malta; not only by the king's absolute
permission, but by his orders? Is not his flag shot at, every day,
by the French; and returned, from batteries bearing the king's
flag? Are not two frigates, and a corvette, placed under my orders?
and they would fight the French, meet them where they may. Has not
the king sent publicly, from Naples, guns, mortars, &c. with
officers and artillery, to fight against the French in Malta? If
these acts are not tantamount to any written paper, I give up all
knowledge of what is war. So far, then, I assert, that the general
is authorized to seize all French and Ligurian vessels. But that is
a small matter, to what will happen if he permits the many hundreds
of French which are now in the mole to be neutral, till they have a
fair opportunity of being active. Even the interest of the Grand
Duke calls loudly, that the Neapolitan general should act with
vigour; for, if all other schemes fail, they have one sure: viz.
set one vessel on fire, and the port of Leghorn is ruined for
twenty years. Pray, say this to Seratti. I have, you know, no
interest personal to myself, in this advice. I wish the great duke
to have no unnecessary risk, and for the Neapolitan general and
myself to take all the odium on ourselves. Pray, excuse this
letter; but, I could not resist writing it. Ever your, &c.
"Nelson."
The unanswerable reasoning in this letter could not fail to produce
perfect conviction; and General Naselli, at his lordship's request,
consented to lay an embargo on all the vessels at Leghorn, till he
should receive orders for their disposal from his Sicilian majesty.
Among these ships, were a great number of French privateers; some of
them, his lordship observed, in a letter to Sir William Hamilton, of
such force as to do the very greatest mischief to our commerce, if
permitted to sail. There were also about seventy sail of vessels,
calling themselves belonging to the Ligurian Republic, before called
Genoa, ready to sail, loaded with corn, for Genoa and France; the
arrival of which, must expedite the entrance into Italy of more French
troops. "General Naselli," says Lord Nelson, "sees, I believe, the
permitting these vessels to depart, in the same light as myself; but,
there is this difference between us--the general, prudently, and
certainly safely, waits the orders of his court, taking no
responsibility on himself; I act from the circumstance of the moment, as
I feel it may be most advantageous for the honour of the cause which I
serve, taking all responsibility on myself."
Having left Captain Troubridge at Leghorn, to act as exigencies might
require, Lord Nelson immediately returned to Naples; where he arrived on
the 5th of December, having been absent little more than ten days.
During this time, letters had arrived from Commodore Duckworth,
relating to the conquest of Minorca; and, these letters having been
forwarded after him to Leghorn, he wrote the following apology and
congratulation to his friend the commodore, now Admiral Sir John
Duckworth, who commanded the squadron which had sailed from Gibraltar on
this expedition.
"Naples, 6th Dec. 1798.
"MY DEAR SIR,
"On my arrival here, yesterday, I found Lieutenant Gregory, who had
been charged with your letters to me; but which were, unluckily,
sent after me to Leghorn: and, as Lieutenant Gregory is very
anxious to return to you, it is out of my power to answer such part
of your public letter as might require. However, I most heartily
congratulate you on the conquest of Minorca; an acquisition
invaluable to Great Britain, and which completely, in future,
prevents any movements from Toulon to the westward. My situation in
this country has had, doubtless, _one_ rose; but, it has been
plucked from a bed of thorns. Nor is my present state that of ease;
and my health, at best but indifferent, has not mended lately.
Naples is just embarked in a new war: the event, God only knows;
but, without the assistance of the emperor, which is not yet given,
this country cannot resist the power of France. Leghorn is in
possession of the King of Naples's troops, as is Civita Vecchia. I
have Troubridge, with Minotaur, Terpsichore, and Bonne Citoyenne,
&c. on the north coast of Italy. Three sail of the line, under
Ball, are off Malta: and Hood, with three sail of the line, and two
frigates, is in Egypt; but I expect his return every moment, and
that the Turks and Russian ships and flotilla have relieved him. I
am here, _solus_; for, I reckon the Portuguese as nothing. They are
all flag-officers, and cannot serve under any of my brave friends.
"With every good wish, believe me your most obedient servant,
"Nelson."
From the following congratulatory letter which Lord Nelson wrote, at the
same time, to his old "brother brigadier," the Honourable
Lieutenant-General Stuart, commander in chief of the forces at the
reduction of Minorca, may be learned the very unpromising state of
military affairs with the Neapolitan army at this important period. It
also clearly developes the secret cause of his lordship's sudden recall
from Egypt.
Naples, 6th Dec. 1798.
"MY DEAR SIR,
"Allow me to congratulate you on the conquest of Minorca; an
acquisition, as a sea-port, invaluable to our country. I hurried
from Egypt, early in August; as, by the Earl of St. Vincent's
orders, I was in expectation of being summoned to attend you.
However, I am sure, my place was much better filled by Commodore
Duckworth. The new war commenced here, it is yet impossible to say
how it may turn: whether it will really hasten the ruin, or save
the monarchy. At all events, if the king had not began the war, he
would have soon been kicked out of his kingdom. The king is at
Rome; but five hundred French still hold possession of St. Angelo.
General Mack is gone to Civita Castellana, where thirteen thousand
French have taken post. Mack's force, with him, is twenty thousand
fine young men; but, with some few exceptions, wretchedly
officered. If the French are not soon driven from their post, which
is very strong by nature, Mack must fall back to the frontier on
the side of Ancona. The French have drove back, to say no more, the
right wing of the king's army, and taken all their baggage and
artillery. The emperor has not yet moved, and his minister, Thugut,
is not very anxious to begin a new war; but, if he does not, Naples
and Tuscany will fall in two months. I shall be happy if you will
honour me, at any time, with your commands, here or elsewhere;
being, with the highest respect, your most obedient servant,
"Nelson."
A letter from Earl Spencer had likewise reached Naples, at this period,
with the official intelligence of Admiral Nelson's elevation to the
peerage; an elevation which, it is certain, the Hero of the Nile by no
means considered as excessive, any more than his particular friends, and
even the country in general. In the following answer to Earl Spencer, it
will appear, however, that his zeal kindles with far more ardour for his
friend Troubridge, than for himself.