The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, Volume 1Harrison, James
History
The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, Volume 1
Harrison, James
Admirals -- Great Britain -- Biography; Great Britain. Royal Navy -- Biography; Nelson, Horatio Nelson, Viscount, 1758-1805
In a short time, the King of Naples, and his suite, who had also come
out full three leagues, in the royal barge, to greet the victorious
British admiral, went on board the Vanguard; where the king
affectionately embraced the Hero of the Nile; and, taking him by the
hand, expressed the effusions of his gratitude in terms of the most
flattering regard for our king, our country, and the immortal Nelson:
whom the sovereign of the two Sicilies, his ministers, and all classes
of his subjects, hailed with the appellation of "_Nostro
Liberatore!_"--"Our Deliverer!"
The King of Naples, who prides himself on being a seaman, went all over
the ship, and examined every thing with apparent delight and
satisfaction. His Neapolitan majesty sailed with Admiral Nelson, for
about three hours, on board the Vanguard; which was saluted, as they
passed, by all the forts. As soon as the Vanguard anchored in the bay,
the King of Naples returned on board his own barge, and Admiral Nelson
accompanied Sir William and Lady Hamilton.
Immediately on landing, Sir William's open carriage conveyed the hero,
in triumph, to the house of his esteemed friends, surrounded by the
enraptured Neapolitans; who gave every possible proof of their joy,
admiration, and gratitude. The Lazzaroni, in particular, crowded round
him in multitudes: vast numbers of them bearing birds of different
species, in curious wicker baskets; which they displayed to the hero as
he passed, and then giving them their liberty, watched their flight with
all the anxiety and assumed importance of the ancient Roman augury.
The Queen of Naples had also gone out, with her numerous family, in
another barge; but had, unfortunately, been too late to greet the hero
on board his victorious vessel, from which he had taken his departure
previously to her arrival. Her majesty, however, after being rowed round
the Vanguard, no sooner returned on shore, than she immediately
addressed a letter to Lady Hamilton; requesting to see, as soon as
possible, the Hero of the Nile. Sir William and Lady Hamilton,
accordingly, accompanied him to the palace, in the afternoon, where he
experienced a most gracious and flattering reception. On this visit,
Lady Hamilton acted as interpreter between the queen and Admiral Nelson,
neither of them understanding each other's language sufficiently to
converse together. The queen constantly addressed him by the appellation
of "Our virtuous and brave admiral."
Such, in short, was the universal transport at Naples, on this occasion,
that general illuminations, with apt and ingenious devices, and one
grand scene of unbounded festivity and rejoicing, were continued for
three successive days.
The Queen of Naples, immediately after her interview with Admiral
Nelson, addressed a letter to the Marquis De Circello, the Neapolitan
Ambassador at the court of London, from which the following is said to
be a correctly translated extract--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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