The fact seems to be, that Lord Nelson had not the smallest apprehensions of any serious designs on Minorca; and greatly feared that, if he should entirely quit the protection of Sicily and Naples, they would both soon be irrecoverably lost. It was, therefore, with extreme reluctance, that he proceeded on the present business; and having, next day, the 17th, been joined off Malta by the Alexander and Goliath, his force was now fifteen sail of two-decked English ships, and three Portuguese, with a fireship and cutter.
On the 20th, the Swallow Portuguese corvette brought dispatches of the 17th, from the Earl of St. Vincent; acquainting Lord Nelson of the near approach of the squadron under Sir Alan Gardiner, and that Lord Keith was going in search of the French fleet. Having now, therefore, no hope of any sufficient reinforcement to enable him to do the same, his lordship determined once more to offer himself for the service of Naples, which he seems to have imagined the French intended to visit; and, indeed, information to that effect had repeatedly arrived, by different ships, as well British as foreign. Accordingly, having parted for Palermo, he arrived off that port on the 21st; but, the ship being becalmed, he was under the necessity of proceeding some leagues in his barge. Having reached Palermo early in the morning of this day, he waited on Sir William Hamilton; and requested that, the instant they had breakfasted, the carriage might be ready to take himself, with Sir William and Lady Hamilton, to the king and queen. Nothing could possibly have been more opportune than this unpremeditated visit; for his lordship now learned, that General Acton had actually written to him, by the desire of their majesties, though he had not yet received the letter most earnestly intreating his return, for the purpose of going into the Bay of Naples, and there completing the business which had been so auspiciously commenced under his judicious arrangements. Such, indeed, was the then critical state of affairs at Naples, that it required both the ablest heads, and the best hearts, to seize the favourable moment, already beginning to flit away, for effectually restoring loyalty and order in that devoted country. During the absence of Lord Nelson and Captain Troubridge, from Sicily and Naples, Cardinal Ruffo, with his army of twenty thousand Calabrese and other loyalists, aided by some hundred Russian troops, had defeated the Neapolitan republicans, after the evacuation of Naples by the French under General Macdonald, who succeeded to Championet; and, in consequence, was actually in possession of all the capital, except the castles of St. Elmo, Ovo, and Nuovo, the two latter of which were momentarily expected to fall. In this state of things, with many doubts respecting the firmness rather than the fidelity of the cardinal, and much apprehension with regard to the pernicious effects of the imposing plausibility of several chiefs of the numerous parties into which the distracted country was unhappily divided, every precaution was considered necessary to be adopted that human sagacity could contrive, and all the fort.i.tude judged requisite to be preserved that the most magnanimous bosom could exercise. Their Sicilian Majesties well knew, that they had now before them a man, devoted to their just interests, who possessed, in the supremest degree, these rare and most estimable qualities. They intreated him, therefore, to undertake the arduous task, which could not be securely committed to any other hands than his own. His lordship was sensible of the importance of the charge, and overwhelmed with generous sentiments for the n.o.ble confidence expressed by the royal sufferers in his abilities to render them those essential services which their peculiar situation demanded. Difficulty could never deter the mind of Lord Nelson from any attempt; for, where there is no difficulty, heroism is without an object. His lordship had, therefore, not a moment to pause, with respect to his ready acquiescence in the will of their majesties; but, from his very imperfect knowledge of the Italian language, he expressed his apprehensions that he might be subject to fatal deceptions, if he should trust to the fidelity of any interpreter among a people so generally corruptible. He did not, however, state the objection, without proposing a remedy. If, his lordship said, Sir William and Lady Hamilton would accompany him into the Bay of Naples, that he might have the a.s.sistance of their able heads, and excellent hearts, to consult, correspond, and interpret, on all occasions, he should not have the smallest doubt of complete success in the business. Sir William, and his lady, were accordingly requested, by the king and queen, to afford their requisite aid on the occasion: to which they agreed, without a moment"s hesitation; and, in less than three hours from the time of his first landing, such was the dispatch thought necessary, that her ladyship, having packed up a few articles of the first necessity, proceeded in the barge, with Sir William and his lordship, on board the Foudroyant, which instantly sailed for the Bay of Naples.
Lord Nelson, it may be supposed, had received very full powers from their Sicilian Majesties; with the advice of their equally brave, wise, and skilful privy-counsellor, General Sir John Acton: but, such was the delicacy of his lordship in the exercise of his almost limitless authority, that no single instance can be with truth adduced, where he ever interfered with the criminal jurisprudence of the country; except, indeed, on the side of mercy, to which his excellent heart, it is well known, constantly inclined.
On the 24th, they arrived in the Bay of Naples; where Lord Nelson saw a flag of truce flying on board the Seahorse, Captain Foote, and also on the Castles of Ovo and Nuovo. Having, on the pa.s.sage, received information, that an infamous armistice was entered into with the rebels of those castles, to which Captain Foote had put his name, his lordship instantly made the signal to annul the truce; being determined, as he said, never to give his approbation to any terms, with rebels, but unconditional submission. The fleet was now anch.o.r.ed in close line of battle, north-west by north, and south-east by south, from the mole head, one mile and a half distant; flanked by twenty-two gun and mortar boats, which he had recalled from Procida.
His lordship sent, instantly, Captains Troubridge and Ball to the Cardinal Vicar-General Ruffo; to represent to his eminence, the opinion which he entertained of the infamous truce entered into with the rebels.
They were also charged with two papers to his eminence, expressive of these sentiments; one of which was intended for their perusal, previously to the agreed surrender. The cardinal, however, declared that he would send no papers; and that, if his lordship pleased, he might break the armistice, for he was himself tired of his situation. Captain Troubridge then asked this plain question--"If Lord Nelson breaks the armistice, will your eminence a.s.sist him in the attack of the castles?"
His answer was decisive--"I will neither a.s.sist him with men nor guns."
After much talking, to very little purpose, his eminence expressed a wish to see his lordship on board, that he might converse with him respecting this situation of affairs; and they, accordingly, accompanied him thither. Sir William Hamilton interpreted between Lord Nelson and Cardinal Ruffo, till he was almost exhausted with fatigue. The dispute lasted about two hours, and frequently ran very high; the cardinal, however, proved more than a match for Sir William and his lordship together in volubility, though far from equal to either in true eloquence. The venerable Sir William, at length, vexed and wearied, calmly seated himself; and requested his lady, though less loquacious than the generality of her s.e.x, to a.s.sist their honourable friend, who continued pacing the cabin with the most determined perseverance, in conducting this war of words. The pleasingly persuasive voice of her ladyship, delivering the manly sentiments of his lordship, made no impression on the cardinal. He would not submit to reason, nor his lordship to any thing else: so that the lady was in a fair way of becoming soon as desirous to desist as Sir William had been before her, and for the same reason too, if Lord Nelson had not suddenly put an end to the argument, by observing that, since he found an admiral was no match for a cardinal in talking, he would try the effect of writing. He wrote, therefore, the following opinion, which he immediately delivered to Cardinal Ruffo--
"Rear-Admiral Lord Nelson, who arrived in the Bay of Naples on the 24th of June, with the British fleet, found a treaty entered into with the rebels; which, he is of opinion, ought not to be carried into execution, without the approbation of his Sicilian Majesty--the Earl of St. Vincent--Lord Keith."
Thus terminated the interview: the cardinal retired in disgust; and the rebels, after having notice of his lordship"s resolve, persisted in coming out of the castles, which were immediately occupied by the marines of the squadron.
Much has been said, by weak persons, respecting the justice of thus annulling a truce which had been actually signed before his lordship"s arrival. They know little of this great and honourable man, the glory of human nature, as well as of his country, who can for a moment conceive that any part of Lord Nelson"s character, public or private, need shrink from the severest scrutiny to which the actions of terrestrial beings may with justice be subjected. He was, it is maintained, among the best, as well as the bravest, among the most just, as well as the most judicious, of mankind. With regard to the right which his lordship possessed of putting an end to the armistice, notwithstanding the capitulation had been signed, while the castles remained unsurrendered, a few plain words will be allowed sufficient, by the sober part of mankind, for whom they can, indeed, scarcely be necessary, to set the question at rest for ever. Had the French fleet arrived, instead of the British, would the capitulation have been at all regarded by those who had agreed to surrender these castles? Would they have delivered them up to the then overpowered besiegers? On the contrary, would they not have instantly directed the guns of these very fortresses against the persons to whom they had just signed their submission? These questions are so obvious, that they scarcely need any reply, since there cannot possibly be two opinions on the subject. If there exists, in such derogations, any departure from strictly moral justice, which admits of much doubt, it must be ascribed to the rigorous necessities inseparable from a state of war, and not to any want of rect.i.tude in the b.r.e.a.s.t.s of those honourable men on whom devolves the severe task of dictating the operations of that dreadful but unavoidable chastiser of the human race.
The besieged, by the laws of war, would have had a right to avail themselves, as is suggested, in the case of such an arrival of the French fleet; and, unquestionably, that of the British, which actually occurred, was alike ent.i.tled to alter the effect of the unexecuted capitulation.
It appears, however, that Lord Nelson, though he would not sanction an armistice which he considered as dishonouring the sovereign for whom he was acting, had not the smallest desire to interfere with the disposal of the rebels whom he was so anxious to secure. It was not for their punishment, but for the security of those whom he feared they might contaminate by their principles, that he resolved to keep them in safe custody till the farther pleasure of his Sicilian Majesty should be known; and, in this, even Cardinal Ruffo, it seems, at length, reluctantly acquiesced.
On the morning of the 27th, having embarked all the princ.i.p.al rebels in the several ships of the British squadron, and the rest in polacres anch.o.r.ed under their care, his lordship ordered Captain Troubridge to land with a detachment of troops, for the purpose of cutting down "the infamous Tree of Anarchy," which was immediately burnt before the king"s palace. His Sicilian Majesty"s flag was now every where flying in Naples, except on the Castle of St. Elmo. This fortress still remaining in the hands of the French, Captains Troubridge and Ball, who had now, in some degree, conciliated the cardinal, taking with them thirteen hundred men from the ships, five hundred Russian troops, and a considerable body of royalists, proceeded to invest it.
As there could be little doubt that this place, though exceedingly strong, must in a few days yield to the vigorous operations of the brave and skilful officers by whom it was besieged, which would complete the repossession of the Neapolitan capital, Lord Nelson wrote to General Acton; requesting that his Sicilian Majesty would come into the Bay of Naples, as well as the general, to sanction and direct, by his royal presence, and their united councils, the requisite measures for completing the important business now in so fair a train for being happily concluded.
At the surrender of the castles, Carraccioli had effected his escape; but he was soon apprehended by the royalists, who were clamorous for his execution; and, on the 29th, after a fair trial, by a board of naval officers of his Sicilian Majesty, for rebellion against his lawful sovereign, and firing at his Sicilian Majesty"s frigate La Minerve, he was hanged at the fore-yard-arm of that ship.
Lord Nelson greatly lamented the fate of this unhappy man, though he could not deny the justice of his sentence; and he would, undoubtedly, have recommended him as an object of mercy to his Sicilian Majesty, had he not well known that such an interference, in the then temper of the people, must have rendered himself an object of their suspicion; and thus have operated against the king"s interest, without finally preserving the culprit from the worst effects of their fury. When it is considered that, a very few months before, Carraccioli had received, at Palermo, the supreme command of the small remains of his Sicilian Majesty"s fleet; that, on his departure for Messina, he had been earnestely and most pathetically conjured by the queen, while taking leave of her majesty, to do every thing in his power for the promotion of the welfare of her little family; that he had, soon after, under pretence of a.s.sisting the royalists in Calabria, abandoned his sovereign, and actually joined the republicans with the force committed to his charge; he cannot be well regarded as an object ent.i.tled to any very extraordinary degree of commiseration.
On the 3d of July, Lord Nelson had the high gratification of receiving official notice of the liberal grant of ten thousand pounds, which had been unanimously voted to his lordship by the Honourable East India Company, for his services at the battle off the Nile; and his considerate regard to their interests, demonstrated by his judicious conduct immediately after that glorious event. To the letter from Sir Stephen Lushington, Bart. Chairman of the Court of Directors, which conveyed this agreeable information, his lordship instantly wrote the following answer.
"Foudroyant, Naples Bay, 3d July 1799.
"SIR,
"I was this day honoured with your letter of May 1st, conveying to me the resolutions of the Honourable East India Company. It is true, Sir, that I am incapable of finding words to convey my feelings, for the unprecedented honour done me by the Company.
Having, in my younger days, served in the East Indies, I am no stranger to the munificence of the Honourable Company; but this generous act of their"s to me so much surpa.s.ses all calculation of grat.i.tude, that I have only the power of saying that I receive it with all respect. Give me leave, Sir, to thank you for your very elegant and flattering letter, and to add, that I am, with the greatest respect, your most obliged and obedient servant,
"Nelson."
Nor did this generous man, for whose just praise language must ever be at a loss, rise from the table at which he had penned the above letter of thanks, till his liberal soul, invited every dear relative in the first degree to a kind partic.i.p.ation of the bounty which he had just received; by making out drafts, of five hundred pounds each, for his venerable father--his elder brother, Maurice Nelson, Esq. of the Navy Office--the Reverend Dr. Nelson, the present Earl--and his two most amiable sisters, Mrs. Bolton and Mrs. Matcham: thus n.o.bly disposing of a fourth part of what he had so honourably acquired, in a way which must ever reflect unfading glory on his memory, and no inconsiderable l.u.s.tre on the characters of those who were thought thus uniformly ent.i.tled to the tender regards of such an exalted as well as kindred mind. It will scarcely be supposed possible, that any human being could convert this generous token of his lordship"s affection and esteem for his family, into a cause of violent complaint. There was one person, however, who did complain on the occasion; and that with such piteous lamentations, as absolutely induced his lordship"s father, in whose house she was at the same time residing, to decline accepting his portion of his son"s most honourable gift. The mention of this undoubted fact, has no other object, than to demonstrate how very distant from a unity of sentiment, in some important respects, Lady Nelson and her ill.u.s.trious husband, must necessarily have been; the unfortunate want of which, is ever likely to occasion a proportionable degree of connubial infelicity, and to account for all it"s disagreeable consequences, without resorting to grosser motives.
On the 6th of July, Captain Ball, who had been commanding at St. Elmo with Captain Troubridge, was ordered by Lord Nelson to resume his situation at Malta; for which place he accordingly sailed in the Alexander, with the Portuguese ship Alfonso de Albequerque, and Captain Peard in the Success.
During the siege of St. Elmo, many of the Neapolitans came out, every day, in boats, to the British squadron; and the leaders of different parties, with various views, but all affecting the strictest zeal and most loyal attachment to their sovereign, paid congratulatory visits to Lord Nelson and Sir William and Lady Hamilton: it was not, perhaps, always possible to discover the insincere; but this ill.u.s.trious triumvirate, as they merit to be denominated, by their extreme circ.u.mspection and address, made all of them conduce, whatever might have been their original design, to the promotion of the royal cause.
Her ladyship, on these occasions, was eminently successful in conciliating those who had entertained unjust prejudices against the queen; and, by the well timed distribution of necklaces, ear-rings, and other trinkets, among the most active of the female partisans, said to be the gracious gifts of her majesty, who had not any present means of more profusely showering her bounty on her beloved people, in which a.s.sertion there was but little departure from truth, such an astonishing progress was made in the attachments of them and their numerous admirers, as would appear scarcely credible to those who are unacquainted with the wonderful influence of the Neapolitan women.
On the 10th of July, his Sicilian Majesty, with his princ.i.p.al ministers, arrived in the Bay of Naples; and went on board the Foudroyant, when his royal standard was instantly hoisted. At the first notice of this event, the Neapolitan royalists came out in prodigious numbers; and, rowing round the ship, called, in the most affectionate manner, for a sight of their beloved sovereign, under the denomination of their dear father.
"The effusions of loyalty," says Lord Nelson, in writing to Lord Keith of this event, "from the lower order of the people to their _father_, for by no other name do they address the king, is truly moving!" It was, indeed, very affecting to hear them; and their transports of joy, on beholding him, are not to be described. Every day, which their king remained on board, did these loyal people continue to flock out; crying--"Father! father! let us only see your face, and we will be satisfied." It was truly pathetic to hear the generous creatures; and to behold the amiable condescension of their worthy sovereign, who never refused to indulge them with a sight of his person. From half past twelve, however, the constant time of dining, till four in the afternoon, when the king usually slept, the most profound silence was preserved by the many anxious and impatient people with whom the surrounding boats were crouded. If the smallest noise occurred, silence was immediately insisted on--"Do you not know," they would softly, but fiercely, say, "that our father is asleep? Would you dare to disturb him?" Then, as the time of his awaking drew near, they generally asked for their good mistress, the name by which they addressed Lady Hamilton; requesting that she would kindly let them know when their father was ready to see them. This, her ladyship never failed to do; and they immediately resumed the eager and affecting cry of--"Father! father!"
&c. when the king instantly presented himself to their view, and often spoke to them with the most consoling affability. The effect of Lady Hamilton"s continual presents and kind remembrances from her majesty, soon occasioned them to make similar enquiries after their good mother, the queen; and their dear children, the royal offspring--"When shall we again behold our good mother? When shall we once more see our dear children?" In such simple expressions of affectionate regard, did all the humble cla.s.ses of Neapolitans pour forth their effusions of loyal attachment to their beloved sovereign; while the generality of those who possessed t.i.tles of honour, seemed wholly dest.i.tute of it"s principles.
"The conduct of the n.o.bles," Lord Nelson remarked, in the letter above noticed, "has been infamous; and it delights me, to see that his majesty marks the difference in the most proper manner. It has been, and is, my study, to treat his majesty with all the respect due to so great a personage; and I have the pleasure to believe, that my humble endeavours have met with the royal approbation."
The painful anxiety of the king, as he viewed the hostile flag on the distant Castle of St. Elmo, feeling both for the besiegers and the besieged, was excessive; but, when on the third day after his arrival, it was visibly lowered, as he stood on the deck, with Lord Nelson and Sir William and Lady Hamilton, he threw his arms round them in an extacy of grat.i.tude, and hailed those generous friends by the appellation of his preservers and restorers.
In fact, the castle surrendered, on the 12th, by capitulation, after a close siege of eight days, with open batteries; in which, the bravery of Captain Troubridge, and the other British officers serving under him, with a most heterogeneous army of British marines, and Russian, Portuguese, Albanese, Calabrese, and Swiss troops, was eminently conspicuous. The particulars of this siege, as well as it"s success, will appear in the following letter sent by Captain Troubridge to Lord Nelson.
"Antignano, near St. Elmo, July 13, 1799.
"MY LORD,
Agreeable to your lordship"s orders, I landed with the English and Portuguese marines of the fleet, on the 27th of June: and, after embarking the garrisons of the castles of Ovo and Nuovo, composed of French and rebels, I put a garrison in each; and, on the 29th, took post against Fort St. Elmo, which I summoned to surrender.
But, the commandant being determined to stand a siege, we opened a battery of three thirty-six pounders and four mortars, on the 3d inst. within seven hundred yards of the fort; and, on the 5th, another, of two thirty-six pounders. The Russians, under Captain Buillie, opened another battery of four thirty-six pounders and four mortars, against the opposite angle; intending to storm it, in different places, as soon as we could make two practicable breaches in the work. On the 6th, I added four more mortars: and, on the 11th, by incessant labour, we opened another battery of six thirty-six pounders, within a hundred and eighty yards of the wall of the garrison; and had another, of one eighteen pounder, and two howitzers, at the same distance, nearly completed. After a few hours cannonading from the last battery, the enemy displayed a flag of truce, when our firing ceased; and, their guns being mostly dismounted, and their works nearly destroyed, the inclosed terms of capitulation were agreed to and signed.
"In performing this service, I feel much satisfaction in informing your lordship, that I received every possible a.s.sistance from Captain Ball, for the first seven days: when your lordship ordered him on other service, and did me the honour to place Captain Hallowell under my orders in his room; whose exertions and abilities your lordship is acquainted with, and merit every attention.
"Lieutenant-Colonel Strickland, Major Cresswell, and all the officers of marines, and men, merit every praise I can bestow: as does Antonio Saldineo de Gama, and the officers and men belonging to her most faithful majesty the Queen of Portugal; their readiness, on all occasions, does them great honour. The very commanding situation of St. Elmo, rendered our approaches difficult; or, I trust, it would have been reduced much sooner. The ready acquiescence to all our demands, and the a.s.sistance received from the Duc di Salandra, I beg, may be made known, by your lordship, to his Sicilian Majesty.
"I feel myself also much indebted to Colonel Tschudy, for his great zeal and exertions on all occasions.
I have the honour to be, &c. T. Troubridge,
The Right Honourable Lord Nelson, K.B."
_Articles of Capitulation agreed upon between the Garrison of Fort St. Elmo and the Troops of his Sicilian Majesty and his Allies._
I.
The French Garrison of Fort St. Elmo shall surrender themselves prisoners of war to his Neapolitan Majesty and his allies; and shall not serve against any of the powers actually at war with the French republic, until regularly exchanged.
II.
The English grenadiers shall take possession of the gate of the fort in the course of the day.
III.
The French garrison shall march out of the fort to-morrow, with their arms, and drums beating. The troops shall lay down their arms on the outside of the gate of the fort; and a detachment of English, Russian, Portuguese, and Neapolitan, troops, shall take possession of the castle.
IV.
The officers shall keep their arms.
V.