Chapter 25

Of his own disappointment, at not having obtained higher rank, he writes nothing to his commander in chief; but, among his most intimate friends, he is known to have freely expressed his grief and indignation at receiving the title of baron only. Had they left him as he was, he has been heard repeatedly to say, he would not have complained; but, he thought, his services merited more than a barony. It would, perhaps, be difficult to find any substantial objection against his having been made, at least, a viscount; which would still have left the commander in chief his superior in rank. Indeed, on such peculiarly great and glorious occasions, there need be little dread respecting precedents. No minister would have been impeached, who had even advised his being created a duke; and, most assuredly, the country would have rejoiced at his merited elevation to that dignity. Why should not the navy possess honours equal to those of a military Marlborough? and, when do we expect to behold the hero on whom they may with more propriety be bestowed?

It is a positive fact, that Lord Nelson would never wear his own gold medal, till he had obtained one for his friend Captain Troubridge; who, by the strictness of official etiquette, without any actual blame in administration, had been at first excluded.

The following laconic epistle to Captain Troubridge, at Leghorn, exhibits a true sailor's letter.

"Naples, Dec. 10th 1798.

"MY DEAR TROUBRIDGE,

"I have just received Mr. Windham's letter of November 30th, and find 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 you liked it, you visited the Grand Duke, in my stead; I could not have been better represented--the copy is a damned deal better than the original.

"Nelson."

"Duckworth has a captain under him; John Dixon, from England, is Post Captain; and Mr. Grey arrived."

At the same time, he wrote to his Excellency the Honourable Mr. Windham, apologizing for not having himself accepted his Royal Highness the Grand Duke's invitation to visit him at Pisa. "I have," says he, "to request that you will present my most profound acknowledgments to his Royal Highness. 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. This will plead my cause for quitting Leghorn so expeditiously."

Another letter, written to Mr. Windham this day, is too interesting to be omitted. It presents his opinion of the patriotic character of Mr. Windham, the disinterestedness of his own, and the wretched pusillanimity of the Neapolitan officers.

Naples, 10th Dec. 1798.

"MY DEAR SIR,

"Your several letters of November 30, came to me this moment. Believe me, no person can set a higher value on your friendship than I do; for, I know, from experience, that you have nothing more at heart, than the honour of our king and country. I rejoice to hear, that the cargoes of corn in the Mole of Leghorn will be landed; 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, 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. I hope, that the emperor is marched to support this country: for, unused to war, it's 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. The King and General Acton being at Rome, I know not what orders will be sent to General Naselli; but, you may depend, I will do nothing which can do away your just demand of retribution to our merchants robbed by the French at Leghorn. I arrived here on the 5th of December, and found my presence very comfortable for the poor queen. Ever believe me, my dear Sir, your most faithful and obliged

"Nelson."

Our indefatigable hero wrote, also, on this day, two letters to his Excellency, the Right Honourable Sir Moreton Eden, K.B. Minister Plenipotentiary at Vienna. In the first of these, he says, with his usual excellence of heart, "I have to thank you, for your kindness to Captain Berry. Poor fellow, he has suffered greatly, both in body and mind; but, I hope, his reception in England will perfectly restore him." The other letter fully demonstrates that his head was no less excellent than his heart. It would have been well for the repose of Europe, and particularly for the welfare of the Emperor of Germany, and his hereditary dominions, as well as of his royal relatives at Naples, had our hero's advice, even at this late period, been sufficiently regarded. We give, with peculiar pleasure, the whole of this almost prophetic document.

Naples, Dec. 10, 1798.

"MY DEAR SIR,

"I received, with thanks, your favour of November the 15th: and perfectly agree with you, that a delayed war, on the part of the emperor, will be destructive to this monarchy; and, of course, to the newly-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 organized, armed, and with it's 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. Pray, assure the empress, from me, 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 your excellency's most obliged and obedient servant,

"Nelson."

"Whenever the emperor acts with vigour, your excellency may say that a proper naval force shall attend to the safety of the Adriatic, as far as in my power."

At this period, it appears, the unfavourable news from the royal army, and the manifest cowardice, treason, and treachery, every where seeming to pervade the unhappy and devoted kingdom of Naples, plunged the excellent queen into an agony of grief which admitted not of consolation. "None, from this house," says Lord Nelson, writing on the 11th of December to Earl Spencer, "have seen her majesty these three days; but, her letters to Lady Hamilton paint the anguish of her soul. However," adds his lordship, "on enquiry, matters are not so bad as I expected. The Neapolitan officers have not lost much honour; for, God knows, they had not much 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 those scoundrels, and placed them on good serjeants. I will, as briefly as I can, state the position of the army, and it's lost honour; for, defeat they have had none. The right wing of nineteen thousand men under General St. Philip, and Micheux (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 serjeant 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 among them; Micheux ran away, as did all the infantry; and, had it not been for the good conduct of two regiments of cavalry, they would have been destroyed. So great was this panic, that cannon, tents, baggage, military chest, all were left to the French. Could you 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 Pesara. 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 Micheux is bringing a prisoner to Naples. This failure has thrown Mack backward. It is the intention of that general to surround Civita Castellana. Chevalier Saxe advanced th Viterbi; General Metch to Fermi; and Mack, with the main body, finding his communication not open with Fermi, retreated towards Castellana. In his route, he was attacked from an entrenchment 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 are fled to Rome, fancying the French at their heels; who never moved from their entrenchment, which was carried by another party of troops, under General Dumas. It is reported, that the king has stripped the Prince di Tarante, Duc di Tranoulle, of his uniform, and disgraced him. He commanded under Saxe; and fled, among the first, to Rome. It is for the traitorous and cowardly conduct of these scoundrels, that the great queen is miserable, knowing not whom to trust. The French minister, and his legation, went off by sea yesterday."

On the 14th, the King of Naples returned home; and notice was immediately given, by Lord Nelson, through the medium of Sir William Hamilton, with as much secrecy as circumstances would admit, that three English transports, then in the Bay of Naples, had directions to receive on board such valuable effects as could be stowed in them, from British merchants, and other residents, and that the whole squadron would be ready to receive their persons, should such a measure be found necessary, in consequence of the kingdom's being invaded by a formidable French army. The Marquis De Niza, at the same time, was desired, by his lordship, to spare a number of Portuguese officers and seamen, for the purpose of assisting to fit some of the Neapolitan ships for sea. He wrote, also, to Captain Ball, at Malta, for the Goliath, Captain Foley, to be sent immediately; and to Captain Troubridge, at Leghorn, whom he desired to join him without one moment's loss of time; leaving the Terpsichore in Leghorn Roads, to bring off the Grand Duke, should such an event be necessary. "The King," writes he, "is returned home, and every thing is as bad as possible. For God's sake, make haste. Approach the place with caution. Messina, probably, I shall be found at; but you can enquire, at the Lipari Islands, if we are at Palermo. Caution Gage to act with secrecy; and desire him to write to Windham, and give him those instructions which may be necessary, at this time, for his guarded conduct and secrecy."

It had, at this time, been fully resolved, that the King, Queen, and Royal Family, of Naples, should embark, with all their richest moveable effects, on board Lord Nelson's ship, for Sicily. In the mean while, it was necessary to conceal such an intention from the Neapolitans in general; who would, probably, never have consented to their departure. Most of the nobility, who were disaffected, and of the common people, who were loyal, it was not doubted, would object, for different reasons, to a measure which they must behold in different points of view, and consequently both conspire to defeat: while, by the dangerous collision, a spark might be struck on materials of so inflammable a nature as the rude populace, and particularly of a populace so very rude as the Lazzaroni of Naples; which, suddenly blazing forth into a devouring flame, might fatally involve the whole royal family, and their most faithful and friendly adherents, and render them the unfortunate victims of the cruel and destructive conflagration.

It was, therefore, at the extreme hazard of their lives, that Lord Nelson, with Sir William and Lady Hamilton, for several days preceding the meditated departure, took in charge the various articles secretly conveyed from the palace, and concerted the different operations necessary for effecting the escape of the royal family without discovery or suspicion. Every day, Lady Hamilton assisted and advised with the King and Queen of Naples, and their jewels, cloaths, &c. were conveyed in boxes, during the night. Neither Sir William Hamilton, nor Lord Nelson, for several days, judged it safe to appear publicly at the palace; but his lordship secretly accompanied Lady Hamilton, one evening, for the purpose of exploring a subterraneous passage leading from the queen's bedchamber to the sea, by which it was agreed that they should get off; and settled every preliminary preparation with the few loyal nobility in whom the royal family could confide. Great anxiety was expressed for the cardinals, and other members of the Romish church, who had taken refuge, in Naples, from French persecution, and might now be expected to fall the first victims of their cruelty; but Lord Nelson desired they might be humanely informed that, on coming in boats alongside any of his ships, and displaying their red stockings, they should be instantly received on board.

In the midst of this important business, his lordship had written, on the 18th, the following very concise epistle to Earl Spencer.

Naples, Dec. 18, 1798.

"MY DEAR LORD,

"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 never firmer; and my heart in the right trim, to comfort, relieve, and protect, those who it is my duty to afford assistance to. Pray, my lord, assure our gracious sovereign--that, whilst I live, I will support his glory; and that, if I fall, it shall be in a manner worthy of your lordship's faithful and obliged

"Nelson."

"I must not write more. Every word may be a text for a long letter."

In spite of every precaution, however, an idea of what was going forward, seems to have prevailed among the people; and, on the 20th, riotous proceedings began to take place, and some murders were committed, which filled the royal family, and their loyal adherents, with new alarms. This was a most critical period for our hero, and Sir William and Lady Hamilton, who would certainly have been sacrificed to the fury of the populace, had a full discovery been then made of the important parts they were acting. Nothing, however, could deter these firm friends from continuing to assist the royal family in escaping from the perils by which they were so cruelly surrounded: and, at night, they were got off, by his lordship, through the subterraneous passage; and conveyed, in barges, amidst a most tremendous sea, on board the Vanguard, where they safely arrived about ten o'clock. Among this unfortunate royal family, thus constrained to quit their kingdom, under protection of the British flag, was the amiable Princess Royal, and with her infant of only a month old. They sailed, on the 23d, at night; and, in addition to their misfortunes, a more furious tempest the next day arose than Lord Nelson had ever before witnessed. It was borne, however, by the royal sufferers, with all the magnanimity which can distinguish minds worthy of majesty. Scarcely had the storm subsided, when their estimable hearts were subjected to a still more severe trial: for, next morning, being Christmas-day, their third son, Prince Albert, seven years of age, was suddenly taken ill; and, at six o'clock in the evening, died in Lady Hamilton's arms. This was an affliction too poignant for nature to be defeated of her tribute; and the unhappy pair were overwhelmed, on the melancholy occasion, with a grief which adorned their illustrious character, and communicated even to the most heroic of their friends. At ten o'clock, they entered the Bay of Palermo; and, at midnight, the viceroy and nobility arrived on board, and informed the royal mourners that all their Sicilian subjects were ready to receive their majesties with joy.

The following most interesting letter, written by Lord Nelson to the Earl of St. Vincent, the third day after their arrival, contains a valuable narrative of the various proceedings by which this important business was preceded, and at length thus successfully accomplished.

"Palermo, Dec. 28, 1798.

"MY LORD,