cany, whose neutrality had been so outrageously violated by the French, was better satisfied with the measure than some of the Neapolitans themselves. Naselli, their general, refused to seize the French vessels at Leghorn, because he and the duke di Sangro, who was ambassadour at the Tuscan court, maintained, that the king of Naples was not at war with France. "What !"9

said Nelson, has not the king received, "as a conquest made by him, the repub❝lican flag taken at Gozo? Is not his own "flag flying there and at Malta, not only "by his permission, but by his order? Is "not his flag shot at every day by the "French, and their shot returned from "batteries which bear that flag? Are not "two frigates and a corvette placed under "my orders, ready to fight the French, "meet them where they may? Has not the "king sent publicly from Naples guns, "mortars, &c. with officers and artillery, "against the French in Malta? If these "acts are not tantamount to any written "paper, I give up all knowledge of what

VOL. IL

" is war." This reasoning was of less avail than an argument addressed to the general's fears. Nelson told him, that if he permitted the many hundred French who were then in the mole to remain neutral, till they had a fair opportunity of being active, they had one sure resource, if all other schemes failed, which was, to set one vessel on fire; the mole would be destroyed, probably the town also; and the port ruined for twenty years. This representation made Naselli agree to the half measure of laying an embargo on the vessels among them were a great number of French privateers, some of which were of such force as to threaten the greatest mischief to our commerce, and about seventy sail of vessels belonging to the Ligurian republic, as Genoa was now called, laden with corn, and ready to sail for Genoa and France; where their arrival would have expedited the entrance of more French troops into Italy. "The general," said Nelson, "saw, I believe, the consequence "of permitting these vessels to depart in "the same light as myself: but there is

"this difference between us: he, prudently, "and certainly safely, waits the orders of "his court, taking no responsibility on "himself: I act from the circumstances "of the moment, as I feel may be most "advantageous for the cause which I serve, "taking all responsibility on myself." It was in vain to hope for any thing vigorous or manly from such men as Nelson was compelled to act with. The crews of the French ships, and their allies, were ordered to depart in two days. Four days elapsed, and nobody obeyed the order; nor, in spite of the representations of the British minister, Mr. Wyndham, were any means taken to enforce it :-the true Neapolitan shuffle, as Nelson called it, took place on all occasions. After an absence of ten days he returned to Naples and receiving intelligence there, from Mr. Wyndham, that the privateers were at last to be disarmed, the corn landed, and the crews sent away, he expressed his satisfaction at the news in characteristic language, saying, “So far I ❝am content. The enemy will be dis

1

"tressed; and, thank God, I shall get no "money. The world, I know, think 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."

Odes, sonnets, and congratulatory poems, of every description, were poured in upon Nelson, on his arrival at Naples. An Irish Franciscan, who was one of the poets, not being content with panegyric upon this occasion, ventured upon a flight of prophecy, and predicted, that Lord Nelson would take Rome with his ships. His lordship reminded Father M'Cormie, that ships could not ascend the Tiber: but the father, who had probably forgotten this circumstance, met the objection with a bold front, and declared he saw that it would come to pass notwithstanding. Rejoicings of this kind were of short duration. The king of Naples was with the army which had entered Rome; but the castle of St. Angelo was held by the French, and 13,000 French were strongly posted in the Roman

states at Castallana.

Mack had marched
Nelson saw

against them with 20,000 men.

"If

that the event was doubtful ;—or rather, that there could be very little hope of the result, But the immediate fate of Naples, as he well knew, hung upon the issue. "Mack is defeated," said he, "in fourteen "days this country is lost; for the em"peror has not yet moved his army, and

Naples has not the power of resisting the "enemy. It was not a case of choice, but "of necessity, which induced the king to "march out of his kingdom, and not wait

till the French had collected a force "sufficient to drive him out of it in a "week." He had no reliance upon the Neapolitan officers; who, as he described them, secmed frightened at a drawn sword or a loaded gun and he was perfectly aware of the consequences which the sluggish movements and deceitful policy of the Austrians were likely to bring down upon themselves, and all their continental allies. "A delayed war, on the part of the em"peror," said he, writing to the British