forth the Cowardice and unravels the Intrigues which led to the Fall
of Naples.
The situation of affairs can best be inferred from certain brief
entries in the Admiral's Journal:--
"_5th Nov._--Back at Naples. I pray God I may be right about this
matter. One cannot be certain of things where one has not Englishmen
to carry them out. But I love Italy so dearly, that I feel that
surgical remedies must be used to cut out that ulcer in the place from
which Rome, the mother of practical civilisation, once sent forth her
humanising influences all over the known world.
"What a place is Italy! Every spot, almost every building left as it
was when its great deeds were done in it, hundreds and thousands of
years ago. Nothing but the earthquake, the volcano, and the Popes
forestall time in obliterating the footsteps of history here. I am
told that they still have the gate at Rome in which Camillus, going
forth to exile, paused to wish that Rome might never have need to
recall him. That was the spirit of the men whose monuments surround
us; but the spirit of the vile brood of Frenchmen, whose presence is a
hornet's nest to Italy, is to burn away, to wash away in blood, to
trample away with coarse feet, every trace that any man had a father.
"_7th Nov._--I am, I fear, drawn into a promise that Naples Bay shall
never be left without an English man-of-war. I never intended leaving
_the coast_ of Naples without one. If I had, who could withstand the
request of such a Queen? Leghorn must be speedily attended to. The
Grand Duke, I fancy, begins to see _fear_: the King goes to the army
to-morrow. In three days he hopes to march. His Majesty is determined
to conquer or die at the head of his army, which is composed of thirty
thousand healthy, good-looking troops.
"Have had a letter from Louis, enclosing a petition from the ship's
company of the _Minotaur_, and endorsing their request. Hang every
mutineer! say I; and hanging's too good for 'em. A mutineer is a
traitor, and the whole lot are poison. The man who lets his mercy get
the better of his judgment in such a matter is disloyal to his
country, and I hope I shall always have the faithfulness to string
them up with a short shrift. But I cannot well refuse Louis, for I can
never forget his noble and effectual support to my flag on the most
glorious 1st of August. A friend in need is a friend indeed: never was
it better applied than to the _Minotaur_. I must write this to Louis,
and also write him a letter to read to his ship's company, saying that
it is in remembrance of his support, and of the gallant conduct of the
_Minotaur's_ ship's company, etc.
"_13th Nov.--Camp, St. Germaines._--A desire from His Majesty called
me here yesterday to concert with General Acton the commencement of
the war. Thirty thousand of Mack's _la plus belle armée 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. Their destination
they are to believe is Malta, and it is entrusted to me to undeceive
them when we are out at sea. Mack is 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. Thugut is evasive, and wishes, he says, the
French to be the aggressors. Is it not aggression, if this Court
knows, all the world knows, that the French are collecting an army to
overrun Naples; in a week destroy the monarchy, plunder and make it a
Republic? As this is fully known, surely it is aggression of the most
serious nature. The Emperor's troops have not yet been in the habit of
retaking kingdoms, and it is easier to destroy than to restore. I
ventured to tell their Majesties that one of the following things must
happen to the King, and he had his choice--'either to advance,
trusting to God for His blessing on a just Cause, to die with _l'épée
à la main_, or remain quiet and be kicked out of your kingdoms.' The
King replied 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.
"_15th Nov._--Their Majesties have now informed me that things stand
precisely as they did before the receipt of despatches from London and
Vienna; but it is evidently a blow their not getting money from
England. The Ministers do not know how to get it: their paper money is
at 40 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; that if
England saw every exertion made in this country to save themselves,
John Bull was never backward in supporting friends in distress. Good
God! my Lord, can the Emperor submit to this?
"_16th Nov._--I must tell De Niza to have his squadron ready by
Saturday, and if all cannot be got ready I must be informed by
Thursday evening how many can be ready.
"_17th Nov._--Even the Grand Signor has condescended to notice my
earnest endeavours to serve the cause of humanity against a set of
impious men. I must write and tell his Admiral how anxious I am for
the success of the Ottoman arms, and how happy he can make me by
telling me how I can be most useful to him. Must also embrace the
opportunity of paying my respects to the Russian Admiral, and assuring
him how happy I feel that we are so near each other, and working
together for the good cause of our sovereigns. If this continues so, I
shall indeed be happy, because I have suspected the Russians, whose
distance relieves them from the fear of French aggression, of playing
for their own hand.
"_Memo._--Have ordered his Sicilian Majesty's ships _Lion_ and
_Aretusa_ to proceed to Malta and put themselves under Captain Ball.
For this blockade numbers will do. Of all the fleets in my command
only the English can be relied on _when the game is afoot_. Every
Portuguese and Sicilian ship has some if not every fault.
"_18th November._--Last evening dear Emma came in, looking
inexpressibly engaging: she evidently had something on her mind which
gave her a girlish diffidence. With her little straight nose and
delicately cut chin, I don't see how she is ever to look anything but
girlish; and last night she had simple white flowers--real flowers
twined in a sort of chaplet in her beautiful hair; and her exquisite
neck and bosom, without a single jewel, were shown up by a bodice of
soft primrose-coloured lawn, as simple as a thrown-back mantilla. She
came up to me with an air of pretty coaxing, made the prettier by a
conviction that it would fail.
"'Don't be cross with me, Nelson,' she begged. 'I know you will be
vexed, but I'm sure the Queen meant you to see it.' And then she
showed me a letter from the Queen, full of the idea that money was
indispensable, which was evidently intended for my eyes. I was to tell
Mr. Pitt, I suppose, what I saw. That I can do very soon.
"I see the finest country in the world full of resources, yet not
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. Everything else is, I have no
doubt, going on in the same system of thieving. I could give Mr. Pitt
so many instances of the greatest mal-content 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 expense of management was more than the produce. Taxes have
been sold for sums of money, which now are five times more than when
sold.
"I told all this to Emma; to which she replied that she knew it better
than I, but as it had been in the beginning in Italy, so it was now,
and ever should be. To which I replied, like a great brute--though I
could see she was not far from crying, and scolded myself half the
night for my roughness to her--'That it would all have to end, and
that it would be fortunate if the Kingdom did not end first.'
"_21st November._--Have wrote to my brother, the Reverend Mr. Nelson,
of Hillborough, to tell him how earnestly I pray that the victory of
which it has pleased God to make me a principal may be useful to my
family. As to myself, the probability is that I shall never take my
seat in the House of Peers. My health has declined very much, and
nothing keeps me on service but the thought that I am doing good.
"_'Vanguard,' 22nd November._--Ordered Commodore Stone, of Her
Faithful Majesty's ship _Rainha_, to remain at this place, and to keep
his ship complete with provisions and water, to put to sea at a
moment's warning; and, in case of any unforeseen accident, to follow
the direction of Sir William Hamilton, and embark the families and
effects of the English and Portuguese, if necessary.
"_'Vanguard,' at Sea, Nov. 27th._--I don't know when I have been so
low; though, thank God, I have not felt the sea-sickness much, in
spite of the gale, which has been very bad. The hope of action keeps
me up. The General will, I trust, have news of the Emperor which will
make him act firmly. War once declared, I shall destroy all the
privateers which have been gathering in Leghorn as a neutral port--I
daresay as many as a hundred of them. The British ships are, I think,
all right, though the weather is so thick that we cannot make any out;
but I have no hope of the Portuguese having followed us in such
weather. I do hope there will be some action, for the past five days
here have been very heavy on my spirits: the weather has been so
infernal that we shall be six days making Leghorn from Naples; and the
contrast between my beautiful chamber in Sir William's palace,
overlooking the Bay of Naples, and my cabin with a gale of wind
blowing, cannot be described. It is not the cabin, it is not the
gale--I do not mind them: I have been through it all, and worse,
before--but it is the loneliness. Instead of the very finest of
society, the witty, well-informed Sir William, most admirable of
hosts, and my beautiful Lady with her laughing eyes and caressing
smile, there being no English of my rank on board, I have only my own
company or the General's--Naselli's. We can, fortunately, neither of
us talk the other's language, or I fear I should have more of his
company, and I have an instinctive aversion to him. He was intended
for a Chamberlain and to die of apoplexy. I shall write to Emma.
"_Later._--I have written to dear Emma.
"My dear Lady Hamilton,--How I miss you and the good Sir
William, who, with my father and my good wife, are my only
comforts in life, now that I cannot have the ships I want, or
even the authority from their Majesties, to finish with these
French! How shall I ever thank you and Sir W. for all your
goodness to me? You have been so wonderfully hospitable; and for
you yourself, you kept me alive. You gave me health, and such a
friendship as I had not dreamed was possible in the world. How I
miss that gentle voice; the soothing touch of those hands; the
friendly glance of those clear eyes; the laughter lurking about
the corners of that mouth, which it is difficult for any man to
take his eyes off! But dear Sir William will be jealous, if that
good man were capable of misunderstanding an upright man's
esteem for his Lady, and were not aware that--
'To see her is to love her,
And love but her for ever,'
as the new Scotch poet that Campbell (my secretary), has been
reading, says.
"Your affectionate
"Nelson."
"_'Vanguard,' Leghorn, 28th Nov._--Came on board the British and
Neapolitan Ministers, who were saluted. Summoned the town of Leghorn
in concert with the Neapolitan General Naselli. At 8 p.m. the Governor
consented to give up the place. Landed the troops, cannon, baggage,
etc., with all expedition, and took possession. It blew a strong gale
on the night of the 22nd, when we sailed from Naples, and the next
day. None but the British ships kept me company.
"There seems to be some tangle with the Grand Duke. Have begged our
Minister Wyndham to say that I would willingly adopt the mode of
procedure most agreeable to him; but the Neapolitan general--d--n his
impudence!--only looks upon me as an agent for transporting him. He
sends _his_ Summons as he pleases. I shall rejoice to see Wyndham, who
reports the capture of Port Mahon by my friend Stuart, and Commodore
Duckworth afloat. Leghorn does not, at this moment, receive me on
shore. I am anxious to get to the support of the King of Naples.
"_29th Nov., 'Vanguard,' Leghorn Roads._--Is it war or is it not war?
These confounded Sicilians and Tuscans think themselves at liberty to
create an artificial state of _not-war_, which they can plead to the
French when they get beaten, as they certainly will be, if they
attempt to make war in such a way. Much good it will do them, though!
If the French had common gratitude, it might, for all their
precautions are in the direction of disobliging us, and we are the
only enemy the French have to reckon with in the world, it seems to
me. Have signified to the King of the Two Sicilies and the Grand Duke
of Tuscany, that the Ports of Genoa (the Ligurian Republic forsooth!)
are in a state of blockade, and that should any vessel of either of
these nations presume after this notice to attempt entering this port,
I have ordered Troubridge, whom I have put in charge, to sink or burn
them with their cargoes. Either of them would carry ammunition for the
French to fight against their own country.
"Have writ to Lord Spencer to-day--I fear too hastily. It would
certainly break things up here if I did not feel confident in his
lordship not to expose me if I occasionally write too freely of what I
see and know. I am so much in the habit of writing my mind freely,
that I cannot say what I wish in a stiff formal letter. Under this
impression I have said that the Portuguese squadron are totally
useless. The Marquis de Niza has certainly every good disposition to
act well; but he is completely ignorant of _Sea_ affairs. I expect to
hear they have had all disasters, and that they are returned to
Naples. All their Commanders are Commodores, _and it is ridiculous to
hear them talk of their rank_, and of the impossibility of serving
under any of my brave and good Captains. Yet these men are English. I
say Niza is by far the best among them, and I shall keep up a good
harmony with him. As to the port being neutral, that is impossible;
and if the Neapolitan General does not consider it as I do, I will
directly have orders sent him to that effect. General Acton and the
Queen will instantly see the propriety of the measure. To-morrow I
return in the _Vanguard_ to Naples. I will be active as long as I can,
but my strength fails me daily.
"I was very low to-day till I had, through Wyndham, a surprise so
delightful that it was difficult to preserve the diplomatic calm which
was already pretty well tried by that weathercock Naselli--no less
than a letter from Emma, passed overland with incredible rapidity from
shepherd to shepherd. I am not ashamed to say that I kissed it when I
had read it. It was like her dear hands pressing on my forehead when I
have one of my vile headaches. Why should there be such things as
headaches, to incapacitate a man from work? Though, thank Heaven, when
there is real work to be done like fighting, the excitement breeds a
rush of vigour which carries everything before it. I have copied every
word of that dear letter.
"'Naples, _Nov. 22nd, 1798_.
"'My dear good Admiral,--
"'As this goes overland and through not over-safe hands, I can
but send you by it expressions of our esteem and of the
wilderness you have left in our little family. Sir William he do
miss you terribly, being accustomed to your gayety and also to
lean on your supperior judgement. For a woman it is worse by
much, for no good woman but is sensible of a kind of support, a
kind of holy joy in the presence of the man that she feels to be
the greatest man there is, as I feel about you, dearest Nelson,
greatest hero of the ancient and modern world. I would I was
with you now, for I know how ill and distressed you must be.
"'The gale has been awfull. The Portuguese is not out yet, nor
like to be. They are not like my Nelson, but fine-weather
sailors that must be protected by a port, and a fort if there is
any enemy near. And you have all the anxiety, which I know you
detest, of waiting for others to move, as the good Emperor must,
when he hears of the sacrifice we have been making to send so
fine an army, from which, by this, I believe, the French will be
in full flight. I know how your head will be splitting from the
wound you got in the service of your country in your glorious
victory; and Emma would like to be with you, laying her hands,
which you say are so smooth and full of vittality, on the poor
wounded forehead and also on the topp of your head, when the
blood is throbbing there. It gives her such joy to think that
you like her to be with you, even when you are too ill to raise
your head; she can be quiet, indeed she can, and wait until her
presence can save you the slightest effort which would make
fresh pains in your head. But what pleases me most is that when
the badd pains is gone and you suffer from a nervousness that
they should return, Emma is able, with scarce observed kisses
and gentle wiles, to draw you out of yourself, so that you
forgett you are playing hide and seek with the head-ache. I have
what is worse, the heart-ache. There is no cure for that but
time. You know how I was sick for Greville, that I had lived
with as his wife, in the first months that I was at Napoli with
dear Sir William. Often have I thought that I was dying of a
broken heart; only hearts don't break, dear Nelson, though you
believe that they do, if I may say Nay to so great a man. Every
night I wept myself to sleep when I slept at all, and if it had
not been for Sir William's goodness--he was like a father to a
dying child, and cheated me out of the death for which I so
longed by humouring me. I tell you I was a good wife to
Greville, Nelson, though I was never married to him as I have
been to Sir William. I had not another earthly thought except to
be with him and be his slave to do his slightest wish. Had he
beaten me I would have stayed to be beaten, not even trying to
escape the blows. I think even they would have been dear to me,
because he had given them to me. I was but a girl, and loved a
man to be master of me.
"'I should be wrong if I told you that I feel your absence as I
felt my absence from Greville then. But that is the kind of way
I feel it, though I have never known your love. I am a fool,
Nelson, I know I am; but I am also a loving woman, that can see
all the goodnesses there is in the man her eyes are following,
and fall down and worship each of them. It is the second
commandment that I should break: "Thou shalt not make to thyself
any graven image"--for this, I suppose, means that you shall not
make an idol of anything, and that is what I cannot but do. Come
back to Napoli soon, to your loving Emma.'
"And immediately below this was added, in the Ambassador's easily
recognisable hand:
"'For God's sake come back soon. My hero-worshipping Emma has
the moping-sickness, and I cannot afford to have her _hors de
combat_ at this anxious time.--W. H.'
"And to this dear Emma added a second post-scriptum:
"'Here in Naples we are very busy making preparations to
celebrate the King's glorious return. The great idea for
illuminations is the asphodel flower with three heads of flowers
made of little lights, and hanging from them the letters
F. M. N.--Ferdinand, Nelson, Mack. They are also making a figure
of France with a red cap, rolling in the dust by the cut-down
tree of Anarchy, for the King to put his foot on her neck at the
grand gala.'
"_Nov. 30th, 'Vanguard.'_--I have been thinking all night of the
General and Duke of 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 Gozo? Is not the King's flag flying
there and at Malta--and at Malta not only by the King's absolute
permission, but by his orders? Is not the flag shot at every day by
the French, and returned from batteries bearing the King's flag? And
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 those 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 authorised 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 Great 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.
"_'Vanguard,' 1st Dec._--These French and Genoese privateers laying in
the Mole are the very mischief. Some of the former are of such force
as to be practically war-vessels, and there are above seventy of the
latter ready to sail loaded with corn for Genoa and France. The
Neapolitan General refuses to seize them, under this same sickening
pretence. Have written to Sir William, to demand that orders should
instantly be sent to the General for the seizure of every French
vessel. The old fool! Still that playing to the French at the expense
of British commerce--a ladder of the weak sitting on the wall between
two minds, which the strong will kick away, when the minute arrives.
Genoa is equally at war with Great Britain as the French, for I
consider the self-named Ligurian Republic as at present only a
Province of France. Even the Neapolitan Government should see that to
permit the departure of this corn from Leghorn must expedite the
entrance into Italy of more French troops. I have got the old fool to
lay an embargo on all vessels, till he receives the orders of his
Court. He 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, awaits 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.
"_Naples, 5th Dec._--Met the Portuguese on my way back. I expect dear
Hood every moment from Egypt. His provisions must be very short. He
deserves great credit for his perseverance. I hope the good Turk will
have relieved him; but the Russians seem to me more intent on taking
ports in the Mediterranean than on destroying Buonaparte in Egypt.
"Am still worried over that _Culloden_ matter. I received yesterday a
private letter from Lord Spencer, of October 7th, saying that the
First Lieutenants of all the ships engaged would be promoted. I
sincerely hope this is not intended to exclude the first of the
_Culloden_: I must write to Lord S. for Heaven's sake, for my sake, if
it is so, to get it altered. Our dear friend, Troubridge, has suffered
enough; and no one knows from me but that the _Culloden_ was as much
engaged as any ship in the Squadron. His sufferings were in every
respect more than any of us. He deserves every reward which a grateful
country can bestow on the most meritorious sea-officer of his standing
in the Service. I have felt his worth every hour of my command.
"_December 5th_ (_later_).--Am back in Naples in my home. I cannot but
regard it as my home; for here I have met with the most complete rest
and happiness which I have known in my lifetime, spent in loneliness
on the sea for the best part of thirty years. Her Majesty and Sir
William and dear Emma met me on the steps of the little port they
call the Arsenal. They seemed mightily glad to have me returned: Her
Majesty saying that she should now feel safe whatever fortune befel
her arms; and Sir William, that his house had been like a monastery
since I sailed to Leghorn. While Emma said nothing, but laughed and
cried a little, and poured out the gladness of her heart in looks and
smiles, till we got to the palace, where Sir William said kindly:
'Kiss her mopes away, and see if you cannot get me back my merry
Emma,--she has been sick for the sight of you. Only I know what an
affectionate heart it is, that feels as if something had been torn out
of it by the roots, when it is deprived of the sight of one it loves.'
And, thus adjured, she came to me and wept silently on my shoulder;
and then, giving me a happy kiss, went back to her husband and got
into his arm, and said in the prettiest way in the world, 'I am sorry
to have been such a moper, and you are the best husband alive, and I
will be good now.' Adding, with a flash of mischief from the laughing
eyes--'Now that I have the moon back that I cried for.' And he held
his arm around her with the affection, as it seemed to me, of a father
rather than a husband, and looked down on her with the fondest pride.
But he did not kiss her; he treated her rather as a favourite child.
"_Dec. 6th._--The state of this country is briefly this: the army is
at Rome, Civita Vecchia taken, but in the Castle of St. Angelo are 500
French troops. The French have 13,000 troops at a strong post in the
Roman State, called Castellana. General Mack is gone against them with
20,000; the event in my opinion is doubtful, and on it hangs the
immediate fate of Naples. If Mack is defeated, this country, in
fourteen days, is lost; for the Emperor has not yet moved his army,
and if the Emperor will not march, this country has not the power of
resisting the French. But it was not a case of choice, but necessity,
which forced the King of Naples to march out of his country, and not
to wait till the French had collected a force sufficient to drive
him, in a week, out of his kingdom.
"Have wrote to Commander Duckworth to congratulate him on the conquest
of Minorca--an acquisition invaluable to Great Britain, and completely
in future prevents any movements from Toulon to the westward. My
situation in this country has had doubtless _one_ rose 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.
"Of the new war in which Naples has just embarked, 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 with the King of Naples' troops, as is Civita Vecchia. I
have Troubridge, _Minataur_, _Terpsichore_, and _Bon Citoyenne_ on the
north coast of Italy, three sail of the line under Ball 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. I wish I could get letters to St.
Vincent: it is important to him to know our state here. The new war
commenced here is yet impossible to say how it may turn--whether it
really hastens the ruin, or saves the monarchy. At all events, if the
King had not begun the war he would soon have been kicked out of his
kingdom. Mack has with him 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 worse, 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.
"_Dec. 7th._--On my arrival here from Leghorn I received a letter from
Lord Spencer, communicating to me the title His Majesty had been
generously pleased to confer on me. An honour, his lordship was
pleased to add, the highest that has ever been conferred on an officer
of my standing, who is not a Commander-in-chief. It should have been a
Viscount at the least. I am not, I hope, a vain man, but this is due
to the fine fellows who won my victory. It goes to show that the
granting of honours is geographical: now, if it had been at the mouth
of the Thames and not at the Nile, I should be by this a Duke, judging
by the scale of recent rewards. The suspense of men's minds would have
been so awful until the thing was settled that ministers would have
been carried away by the pressure. It would be good for the Service if
ministers were carried away sometimes. Greater recognition could not
be given to the victory of my fleet, _because I was not a
Commander-in-chief_. As if this made things easier. They cannot be
insensible to the difficulties I have to encounter in not being a
Commander-in-chief; indeed, with any other Commander-in-chief except
my dear old friend, Lord St. Vincent, I should never have got to the
Nile at all, much less conquered the French. Himself what is called a
Conservative officer, there never was a more generous chief to
officers detailed for particular duties. He not only gave me ten more
ships, but his ten best ships; and so he does for all. God knows the
strain it all was, and the bitter moment of my return to Syracuse! The
only happy moment I felt was in the view of the French. Then I knew
that all my sufferings would soon be at an end.
"And concerning this matter of the _Culloden_, I hope and believe the
word 'engaged' is not intended to exclude her. I hope that the merit
of that ship and her gallant Captain are too well known to benefit by
anything I could say. Her misfortune was great in getting aground,
while her more fortunate companions were in the full tide of
happiness. No; I am confident that my good Lord Spencer will never add
misery to misfortune. Indeed, no person has a right to know that the
_Culloden_ was not as warmly engaged as any ship in the Squadron.
Captain Troubridge on shore is superior to other captains afloat. In
the midst of his great misfortunes he made those signals which
prevented certainly the _Alexander_ and _Swiftsure_ from running on
the Shoal.
"Have written to Lord Spencer about it--I begged his pardon for
writing on the subject, because I verily believe that it has never
entered his Lordship's head; but my heart, as it ought to be, is
warmed to my gallant friends.
"_Naples, Dec. 8th._--We are quit of _La Combe de St. Michel_, the
Minister of the French Republic at the Court of the Two Sicilies,
suite and baggage. I had the greatest pleasure in the world in giving
the Genoese Pink _La Madonna di Parto Salvo_, Argita Ferraii, Master,
which had him aboard, a pass from the Bay of Naples to the Port of
Genoa, which desired His Majesty's Ships, and any private vessel
belonging to the English nation, to afford him every assistance and
facilitate his passage.
"_Naples, Dec. 9th._--It is tails, not heads. It is reported, and
indeed is certain, that the Neapolitan officers are run away even at
the sight of the enemy. As must ever be the case, several brave
officers have fallen. I know not the extent of the disaster, but I
believe it is very bad. Have written to Troubridge to keep something
very often at Leghorn, for I think it very probable that I may be
forced to send for him in a hurry; and I have warned him that
everything he sends here must anchor cautiously _if my Flag is not
here_. What orders have been sent to General Naselli I know not. It
was determined to order him to seize all French and Ligurian vessels
in the Mole. This Emma got from Her Majesty, who is the only man in
her kingdom.
"What an extraordinary thing it is that nothing is to be done here
save through a beautiful young woman, and her of another nation!
"I am sure, whenever I enter My Lady's boudoir, of intelligent
sympathy and co-operation. Those clear eyes see deeper than most into
the tangles of politics (which mean intrigues here), and that graceful
head has a woman's wit in divining the course of things. But it is the
courage of the noble creature that overwhelms me. Neither army nor mob
could daunt her from fighting for a friend as a tigress will fight for
her cubs; and, what is finer, she is equally dauntless of
responsibility. Had Emma been a sea-captain, she would have been as
daring as Foley at the Nile. Heaven meant her to be a queen, but
stayed its hand and sent her to a country where there was a Queen
after her own heart, and to be the ambassador of a greater country,
for she is the ambassador of Great Britain. Sir William is too much
taken up with the set of his eyeglass and the handling of his
snuff-box. Sir William is a Lord of the Admiralty spoiled. He would
have set them the finest example of allowing no national peril or
disaster to betray him into a loss of manner.
"Here, too--I write this only because I know that what I write thus
shall never be seen of the public eye--he has his great use, for his
enemies look upon him as a fool with whom the forms of respect have to
be preserved, and his wife as a beautiful adventuress--how I blush to
write these words!--whose lowly origin prevents her having to be
reckoned with. In this are they much mistaken, for she can twist the
Queen, who is in effect the King, round her little finger, and she
has the wisdom as well as the courage to save a kingdom.
"Her clear sight showed her at a glance that the vessels in the Mole
must be seized if we were to cut the French off from their base, and
she soon had the required order from the Queen. But this sad history
of the army may have driven everything out of their heads.
"Wyndham writes that it is settled that all the cargoes of the Genoese
ships should be landed, and all the French privateers disarmed, and
their crews sent away. So far I am content. Money is not our object,
but to distress the common Enemy. I hope, if Troubridge liked it, he
visited the Grand Duke in my stead; I could not have been better
represented. The Copy is a d--d deal better than the Original.
"_Naples, 10th December._--His Royal Highness, the Great Duke, paid me
the high honour of desiring to see me at Pisa; but I was under a
sacred promise to return here as expeditiously as possible, and not to
quit the Queen and Royal Family of Naples without Her Majesty's
approbation.
"On the whole, I rejoiced to hear that the cargoes in the Mole of
Leghorn will be landed--though I fear that some of it will find its
way to the French--and the privateers disarmed, and the scoundrels
belonging to them sent away. The Enemy will be distressed, and, thank
God, I shall get no money. The world, I know, thinks that money is our
God, and now they will be undeceived as far as relates to us. 'Down,
down with the French!' is my constant prayer. I hope that the Emperor
is marched to support this country; for, unused to war, _its officers
seem alarmed at a drawn sword, or a gun, if loaded with shot_. Many of
them, peaceable heroes, are said to have run away when brought near
the Enemy.
"Have just got a hundred and fifty-nine of the _Leander's_ from
Corfu. It was dog's luck for Berry her falling in with the _Généreux_,
but I trust the King will confer the same honours on him as if he had
not been in the _Leander_; indeed, his sufferings in her entitle him
to more honours, and the City of London has at any rate given him its
freedom. Her defence was glorious, and does Thompson and Berry the
highest credit. A French 50 would have struck to one of our 74's
without firing a gun. I shall have that _Généreux_ yet, and that
precious captain of hers, unless he is by this time a prisoner to the
Turks. I daresay they will cut off his head, the scoundrel: the
treatment the officers received on board the _Généreux_ was infamous.
They were plundered of everything they possessed. Captain Thompson was
even robbed of the miniature of his mother, and at the very moment the
surgeon of the _Leander_ was performing an operation he was robbed of
his instruments, and Captain Thompson nearly lost his life by the
attendance of his surgeon being forcibly withheld. To the
remonstrances of my officers this Captain Lejoille coolly replied:
'_J'en suis faché, mais le fait est que les François ne sont bons
qu'au pillage_.' Berry has asked me if Josiah is yet made Post. I do
not see any probability of that event. He asks Campbell to get him a
fan-mount. I shall see to it myself, and wish he had a thought of
anything else. He shall have the sword which he brought me off the
_Spartiate_ when she struck. I shall never forget his support for my
mind on the 1st of August.
"I hear that Malta will fall in due time. I think the Order will never
be restored: the inhabitants hate them. The delayed war on the part of
the Emperor will be the destruction of this Monarchy, and, of course,
to the new-acquired dominions of the Emperor in Italy. Had the war
commenced in September or October, all Italy would at this moment have
been liberated. This month is worse than the last; the next will
render the contest doubtful, and in six months, when the Neapolitan
Republic will be organised, armed, and with its numerous resources
called forth, I will suffer to have my head cut off if the Emperor is
not only defeated in Italy, but that he totters on his throne at
Vienna. Have wrote to the Empress that notwithstanding the councils
which have shook the throne of her father and mother, I shall remain
here, ready to save the sacred persons of the King and Queen, and of
her brothers and sisters; and that I have also left ships at Leghorn,
to save the lives of the Great Duke and Her Imperial Majesty's sister;
for all must be a Republic, if the Emperor does not act with
expedition and vigour. '_Down, down_ with the French!' ought to be
placed in the Council-room of every country in the world, and may
Almighty God give right thoughts to every Sovereign, is the constant
prayer of one who only lives to defeat the infamous machinations of
these infidels.
"_Naples, 11th December._--Not a line from England since the 1st of
October. Lord St. Vincent is in no hurry to oblige me now; in short, I
am the envied man, but better that than to be the pitied one. Never
mind; it is my present intention to leave this country in May. The
poor Queen has again made me promise not to quit her or her family
until brighter prospects appear than do at present. The King is with
the Army, and she is sole Regent; she is, in fact, a great King.
"Lady Hamilton's goodness forces me out at noon for an hour. What can
I say of hers and Sir William's attention to me? They are, in fact,
with the exception of my wife and my good father, the dearest friends
I have in this world. I live as Sir William's son in the house, and my
glory is as dear to them as their own; in short, I am under such
obligations as I can never repay but with my eternal gratitude. The
improvement made in Josiah by Lady Hamilton is wonderful; _Lady
Nelson's obligations and mine are infinite on that score; not but
Josiah's heart is as good and humane as ever was covered by a human
breast. God bless him!--I love him dearly with all his roughness._
"The Queen has again made me promise not to quit her and her family
till brighter prospects open upon her. She is miserable, we know. None
from this house have seen her these three days, but her letters to
Emma paint the anguish of her soul. However, on inquiry, matters are
not so bad as I expected. _The Neapolitan officers have not lost much
honour, for God knows they had but little to lose_; but they lost all
they had. Mack has supplicated the King to sabre every man who ran
from Civita Castellana to Rome. He has, we hear, torn off the epaulets
of some of these scoundrels, and placed them on good sergeants. I
will, as briefly as I can, state the position of the Army, and its
lost honour, _for defeat they have had none_. The right wing, of
nineteen thousand men, under General St. Philip and Michaux (who ran
away at Toulon), were to take post between Ancona and Rome, to cut off
all supplies and communication. Near Fermi they fell in with the
enemy, about three thousand. After a little distant firing, St. Philip
advanced to the French General, and returning to his men said, 'I no
longer command you,' and was going off to the Enemy. A sergeant said,
'You are a traitor: what! have you been talking to the Enemy?' St.
Philip replied, 'I no longer command you.' 'Then you are an enemy!'
and, levelling his musket, shot St. Philip through the right arm.
However, the Enemy advanced; he was amongst them. Michaux ran away, as
did all the Infantry, and had it not been for the good conduct of two
regiments of Cavalry, would have been destroyed. So great was their
panic, that cannon, tents, baggage and military chest--all were left
to the French. Could one credit, but it is true, that this loss has
been sustained with the death of only forty men? The French lost many
men by the Cavalry, and having got the good things, did not run after
an army three times their number. Some ran thirty miles to Pesaro. The
peasantry took up arms--even the women--to defend their country.
However, the runaways are not only collected, but advanced to Arcoti,
which they took from the French, cutting open the gates with hatchets.
It is said they have got a good General--Cetto, a Neapolitan
Prince--and I hope will be ashamed of their former conduct. General
Michaux is bringing a prisoner to Naples.
"This failure has thrown Mack backwards. It is the intention of the
General to surround Civita Castellana. Chevalier de Saxe advanced to
Viterbi, General Metch to Fermi, and Mack with the main body, finding
his communication not open with Fermi, retreated towards Civita
Castellana. In his route he was attacked from an intrenchment of the
Enemy, which it was necessary to carry. Finding his troops backward,
he dismounted, and attempted to rally them, but they left their
General and basely fled. The natural consequence was, he was sorely
wounded, but saved by some gallant Cavalry, and carried off by the
bravery of a coachman, and is safe, poor fellow, at Rome, and hopes
are entertained of his recovery. The fugitives fled to Rome, fancying
the French at their heels, who never moved from their intrenchment,
which was carried by another part of the troops under General Dumas.
It is reported that the King has stripped the Prince di Taranto, Duc
di Trani, of his uniform, and disgraced him. He commanded under Saxe,
and fled amongst the first to Rome. 'Tis for the traitorous and
cowardly conduct of these scoundrels that the great Queen is
miserable, knowing not who to trust. The French Minister and his
Legation went off by sea yesterday.
"_Naples, 12th December._--No squadron up to the 26th of November
arrived to relieve Captain Hood, who has long been in want of being
re-victualled and re-fitted; a frigate and two or three gunboats are
all that have arrived, when certainly not less than three sail of the
line, four frigates with gun and mortar vessels, should have been
sent. Egypt is the first object--and Corfu the second.
"The Neapolitan officers do not like fighting, and some are traitors,
so says report.
* * * * *
"The oddest thing in the midst of wars and alarms, when a kingdom is
tottering to its base. I was sitting in my chamber--the one I had
before, overlooking the Bay--writing a despatch to Ball, whom I
mistook so at first, and have found to be a wonderful man since he has
been at Malta, when Emma, who is the best-hearted creature alive, came
in, more the coquette than I had ever known her. It may have been only
my imagination that she was dressed with unwonted elegance. Certain I
am that her clothes sat on her uncommon well, and she was arching her
brows--excelled by no statue of antiquity in their perfect moulding.
Her eyes were brimful of mischief, and little smiles of amusement were
chasing each other round the lovely mouth, that was doing its best to
be grave.
"'Despatches,' I said warningly.
"'Let me write them for you, Lord Left-hand,' she cried, leaning on my
shoulder caressingly to capture my pen and read what I had written.
This was all flat disobedience of orders, and she was trying to coax
me into forgetting it. 'My dear Ball * * * With every kind wish to
Foley, Gould and Waller, believe me ever your affectionate Nelson.'
'Capital,' she cried: 'is this Captain Gould of the _Audacious_?'
"'The same.'
"'Well, then you have to be the Ambassador--or the Ambassador's
wife--and I am only going to be the Admiral giving orders. You know
our good Miss Knight?'
"'Her that wrote the new verse about me on to "God save the King" at
my birthday ball?'
"'The same.'
"'What of her?'
"'The very drollest thing has happened. It seems that her father, who,
as you know, was a most respectable man--he died a Rear-Admiral and a
Knight of the Bath, I think--had a cousin living at Taunton, who was a
chimney-sweep or something of the kind. Well, he is dead too.'
"'A good thing, I should think.'
"'Uncommon better than you think.'
"'Dear Emma,' I said, lifting my head to the rosy face at my shoulder,
in doing which I touched her soft cheek, 'I think I never before heard
you say an unkind thing, except when your temper is blazing, which I
do not count against you. I had rather, I think, have kept my ideal.'
"'Was there ever such an unreasonable man, to begrudge poor Miss
Knight her good fortune?'
"'What good fortune?'
"'Five thousand golden guineas. The sweep has left her his fortune,
which, with what she has, will make her between seven and eight
thousand pounds.'
"'I see.'
"'And she has, I understand, for some time been receiving advances
from Captain Gould, of the _Audacious_, which she is now in a position
to gratify.'
"'Miss Knight must be over fifty,' I said, half to myself.
"'Who is unkind now?' asked Emma.
"'I unkind? I was only thinking Gould is a young man.'
"Emma was a diplomatist. She said nothing, so I had to say something,
and asked: 'And I am to be the Ambassador who conveys----?'
"'The match-maker,' she said softly, and then she tripped away.
"I am sure I hope poor Miss Knight will get her husband, but I fear I
made a mess of it in striving to be diplomatic, for I just wrote the
news about the chimney-sweep, adding: 'Lady Hamilton and Sir William
desire to be kindly remembered to all their good friends with you; and
Lady Hamilton and Miss Knight are not indifferent to the welfare of
those off Malta, particularly to an _Audacious_ and good friend of
ours.'
"Emma would have done better than this, but I tried to be diplomatic.
"_Naples, Dec. 14th._--This kingdom is invaded by a formidable French
army. Have sent word to Sir William, for the information of the
English merchants and others residing at Naples, that the three
English transports in this Bay have my directions to receive such
effects of the English as they can stow, and that the whole squadron
will be ready to receive their persons should such an event be found
necessary for them to embark. Having had some experience of this kind
of thing, I have dropped him a hint that I mean valuable effects, and
not household furniture; and that anything sent on board ship should
be done with as little bustle and as much secrecy as possible.
"Must tell De Niza to lend the King a number of Portuguese seamen and
officers to assist in fitting some of his ships for sea, or the French
will have them. I think it has come to that.
"_Naples, Dec. 15th._--The situation of this country is very
critical--nearly all in it are traitors or cowards. Have sent for the
_Goliath_, and ordered Foley to come through the Faro of Messina, that
he may get information. Have cautioned him not to approach Naples but
with great caution. More bad luck: the _Flora_ cutter is lost. Have
asked Ball if he can spare the _Incendiary_. I cannot use the
Neapolitan ships: they are traitors in the _marine_. In short, all is
corrupt.
"_15th Dec._ (_later_).--Have sent for Troubridge, leaving the
_Terpsichore_ in Leghorn Roads to bring off the Great Duke should such
a measure be necessary. I hope to God he will make haste and approach
the place with caution. The King has returned here, and everything is
as bad as possible. If he does not come quickly he will find me at
Messina or even Palermo.
"_Dec. 16th._--In the midst of all this, it is like a returning ray of
victory to receive from the powerful, formidable and most magnificent
Grand Signor his present in acknowledgment of my success of 1st
August--the _chelengk_, a kind of diamond aigrette, and a sable fur
with broad sleeves, with two thousand sequins to be distributed among
the wounded of my crew. Have sent my dear son-in-law, Captain Nisbet,
to carry Kelim Effendi to Constantinople with my thanks. The glory of
the Ottoman arms is as dear to me as those of my own country, and I
always pray the God of heaven and earth for His blessing on the Grand
Signor and all his faithful subjects. But I was in hopes that part of
the United Ottoman and Russian Squadron would have gone to Egypt--the
first object of the Ottoman arms--Corfu is a secondary consideration.
A squadron should be sent, too, on the coast of St. Jean d'Acre,
which, if any event drives us from the coast of Egypt, will be
attacked by sea. I have Buonaparte's letter before me.
"When I first saw the French fleet, which for near three months I had
in vain sought, I prayed that if our cause was just, I might be the
happy instrument of His punishment against unbelievers of the Supreme
only True God--that if it was unjust, I might be killed. The Almighty
took the battle into His own hand, and with His power marked the
victory as the most astonishing that ever was gained at sea. All glory
be to God. Amen! Amen!
"Had a long and friendly conference with Kelim Effendi on the conduct
likely to be pursued by the Russian Court towards the unsuspicious (I
fear) and upright Turk. Our ideas have exactly been the same about the
Russians. A strong squadron should have been sent to Egypt, to have
relieved my dear friend Captain Hood, but Corfu suited Russia better.
Enough ships were under the Admiral's command for both.
"I am now collecting a squadron to blockade Toulon, where troops are
embarked for Egypt. I had a right to expect that the Turks and
Russians would have taken care of things east of Kandia. I could have
seen to Corfu. Troubridge was actually under sail when I heard that
the Russians were there. I have had the charge of the Two Sicilies
entrusted to me, and things have come to that pitch that I do not know
that the whole Royal Family, with three thousand Neapolitan _emigrés_,
will not be under the protection of the King's flag this night.
Notwithstanding the squadron I am sending to Egypt, at least two sail
of the line and four frigates should assemble at St. Jean d'Acre; for
I know that is the place where Buonaparte has ordered part of his
fleet to go to if any accident should happen to our squadron.
"_Naples, December 18th._--There is an old saying that 'when things
are at the worst, they must mend.' Now, the mind of man cannot fancy
things worse than they are here. But, thank God, my health is better,
my mind was never firmer, and my heart is in the right trim to
comfort, relieve, and protect those who it is my duty to afford
assistance to. Whilst I live I will support the glory of our Gracious
Sovereign and that of our country, and if I fall it shall be in a
manner worthy of them.
"_Naples, December 19th._--General Fortiguerra came here yesterday,
and said that he had been with the King, and was desired by the King
to fit out all his Navy in the port, and requested that I would allow
some of the Portuguese seamen to be lent, in order to fit them out, as
they understood Italian, and I understood that he was to prepare for
the King's departure; and to the last my reply was, that I could
receive no orders from any but the King, but that His Majesty had not
a more faithful subject than myself in his dominions.
"_Dec. 19th_ (_later_).--Have had sail-makers making cots for the
Royal Family, and painters painting the ward-room and offices under
the poop. Have been getting ready for sea, and in the night time
getting off the valuable effects of Her Sicilian Majesty.
"I see no help for it but Palermo, and shall make my dispositions.
Dear Emma, who has the heart of a lion and the instinct of an admiral,
was in here just now (I have judged to make my quarters at the Embassy
as usual: any personal risk is far outbalanced by the confidence it
inspires), and sees nothing else for it. She knows the Neapolitans,
and does not value them but for hole-and-corner defence. When it comes
to artillery they are nowhere, and Championnet brings guns! What a
woman! She has been laying her preparations for a week, or two weeks
past, and whenever it is necessary we shall take the Royal Family and
treasure, I hear to the extent of two millions and a half, without
ado. It only remains to save the ships, which it is doubtful if the
Neapolitan marine wishes to save from the French. Naples will look
after itself: it has quite enough traitors in it to make peace with
any enemy. With the Court faction (some three thousand, including
foreigners) embarked, no one would be hurt if the _lazzaroni_ could
keep quiet. But they hate the French, and they have a turbulence and
adventurousness of spirit which comes very near great bravery; though
they are hardly brave, for in the open with fair play they would not
stand. Small bodies of Frenchmen will be cut off until the
_lazzaroni_ have been slaughtered in sufficient numbers for a lesson,
and if I know anything of the French the lesson will be a severe one.
"Dear Emma, in the midst of all this turmoil and labour--for it is the
labour of Hercules to do so much and not appear to be doing--she
contrives to be just as affectionate and thoughtful as when we landed
three months ago and there was not a cloud upon the horizon. Whenever
I am disengaged, she contrives to be with me: she has so great a fear
of being inhospitable to one who on any reasoning must soon sail. I do
not find myself so afraid of her now.... No! I was never afraid of
Emma--I was afraid of myself. Needlessly, I think. I should have known
that such a steady flame of friendship will not set fire or consume.
She has been like a mother to Josiah, and she has been like a mother
to me, though so much younger. She says that all sailors are
children--God's children: not meaning by this that they are godly,
though the roughest sailor is by nature of his calling apt to keep
some notion of a Deity in his heart; but because God keeps them in
some respects in a state of childhood, being so much cut off from the
world in which others are offered the fruit of the tree of knowledge.
She says to me, 'You are a great conqueror, and yet you are a child,
and I must take care of you.' She says that she was wrote to when I
first came to Naples, to take care of me from the ladies, which indeed
she has done; so that, though there are some very beautiful young
women among the English residents as well as at the Court, I am not in
the train of any of them, but have been a stay-at-home when there were
not public ceremonies. I am not afraid of myself now,--I know the
quality of her affection. And if sometimes she is carried away by
enthusiasm, I know that it is but the homage of a generous heart to a
wounded man--who has won a victory. And I take it in the spirit in
which it is offered."