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 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."
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 on a flight of prophecy, and predicted that Lord Nelson would
take Rome with his ships. His lordship reminded Father M'Cormick 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 against them with 20,000 men. Nelson saw
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. "If Mack is defeated," said he, "in fourteen days
this country is lost; for the emperor has not yet moved his army, and
Naples has not the power of resisting the enemy. It was not a case for
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, seemed 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 emperor," said he,
writing to the British minister at Vienna, "will be destructive to this
monarchy of Naples; 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 organised, armed, and
with its numerous resources called forth, the emperor will not only be
defeated in Italy, but will totter on his throne at Vienna. DOWN,
DOWN WITH THE FRENCH! ought to be written in the council-room of every
country in the world; and may Almighty God give right thoughts to
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