Chapter 24

"_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.

Naples, 7th Dec. 1798

"MY DEAR LORD,

"On my arrival here, from Leghorn, I received your lordship's letter of October 7, communicating to me the title his majesty had been graciously pleased to confer upon me; an honour, your lordship is pleased to say, the highest that has ever been conferred on an officer of my standing, who was not a commander in chief.

"I receive, as I ought, what the goodness of our sovereign, and not my deserts, is pleased to bestow: but, great and unexampled as this honour may be, to one of my standing--yet, I own, I feel a higher one, in the unbounded confidence of the king, your lordship, and the whole world, in my exertions. Even at the bitter moment of my return to Syracuse, your lordship is not insensible of the great difficulties I had to encounter, in not being a commander in chief. 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!

"I observe what your lordship is pleased to say, relative to the presenting myself, and the captains who served under me, with medals; and, also, that the first lieutenants of the ships engaged will be distinguished by promotions, as well as the senior marine officers. I hope, and believe, the word "engaged" is not intended to exclude the Culloden; the merit of that ship, and her gallant captain, are too well known to benefit by any thing 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. Captain Troubridge, on shore, is superior to captains afloat. In the midst of his great misfortunes, he made those signals which prevented, certainly, the Alexander and Swiftsure from running on the shoals. I beg your pardon for writing on a subject which, I verily believe, has never entered your lordship's head; but my heart, as it ought to be, is warm to my gallant friends.

"Ever your lordship's most faithful and obedient

"Nelson."

So anxious was Lord Nelson for his gallant friend Troubridge, and the other brave officers of the Culloden, that he thus urges, at the same time, in a letter to the Earl of St. Vincent, the subject which occupied his feeling heart. "I received, yesterday," writes he, "a private letter from Lord Spencer; 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. For Heaven's sake, for my sake, if it be so, get it altered! Our dear friend Troubridge has suffered enough; and no one knows, from me, but 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 I have felt his worth every hour of my command. I have before wrote you, my dear lord, on this subject; therefore, I place Troubridge in your hands."