that I dealt sharp swift justice to Caracciolo. I wish the rebels to know that those who are caught red-handed will be executed before they have time to buy their escapes; and this effect I hope it will have, coupled with the proclamation I have drawn up:-- "'Foudroyant,' Naples Bay, _29th June, 1799_. "'Horatio, Lord Nelson, Admiral of the British Fleet in the Bay of Naples, gives notice to all those who have served as officers, Civil or Military, in the service of the infamous Neapolitan Republic, that if, in the space of twenty-four hours for those who are in the City of Naples, and forty-eight hours for those who are within five miles of it, they do not give themselves up to the clemency of the King, to the Officer commanding the Castles of Uovo and Nuovo, that Lord Nelson will consider them still as in rebellion, and enemies of His Sicilian Majesty.' "I was glad to see that the Prince had the honour not to claim to be included in that infamous capitulation; for I hear, by all accounts, that he was out of the Castle before Foote signed at all. In his plea for mercy to the Duke of Calviranno he rested his plea entirely on his former services, without allusion to the capitulation; and though he showed a brave man's firmness during his actual examination, gaining thereby the esteem of such of my officers as were present--the ward-room, as customary, being open to whoso chose to enter--he made at least three attempts to throw himself upon my mercy, which shows that he would willingly have saved his life if he could. "In the period between the passing of the sentence and its carrying out, he was in the charge of Lieut. Parkinson and a guard; and at his request Lieut. Parkinson came to me first to demand a second trial, and afterwards that he might be shot. I was much moved by the wording of his second application: 'I am an old man, Sir,' he said to Lieut. Parkinson; 'I leave no family to lament my death--I therefore cannot be supposed to be very anxious about prolonging my life, but the disgrace of being hanged is dreadful to me.' Fortunately I remembered that the excuse upon which he had obtained leave from the King to return to Naples was that his property might not be confiscated _and his family ruined_. I was therefore able to do my duty and reply--'Caracciolo has been fairly tried by the officers of his own country; I cannot interfere.' But he had so worked upon Lieut. Parkinson that, with a disregard of etiquette for which I forgave him, he repeated Caracciolo's request. I had some difficulty in doing my own duty and bidding him--'Go, Sir, and attend to your duty.'