The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, Volume 2 — John Shaqi
The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, Volume 2Harrison, James
History
The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, Volume 2
Harrison, James
Admirals -- Great Britain -- Biography; Great Britain. Royal Navy -- Biography; Nelson, Horatio Nelson, Viscount, 1758-1805
Besides what has been extracted from the letter to the Earl of St.
Vincent, it contains the following intelligence relative to the then
state of Naples--"On the 4th, the French were not at Naples; but were
only sixteen miles distant, negociating with the _nobles_ of Naples, for
the exclusion of the king. The French long to give them the fraternal
squeeze. Another party is for making the Duke of Parma's son, married to
the king of Spain's daughter, now at Madrid, king under French
protection. The lower class are the only loyal people; and they, we
know, may any moment take a wrong turn. Mack is at Capua; but, it was
determined, should retreat towards Salerno. On the 3d, at night, the
French attempted to force the lines of Capua. They did not succeed. What
occasioned their retreat, is difficult to guess; although the Neapolitan
army is twenty-five thousand, and the French not eight thousand. _Is
not this a dream! Can it be real_?"
The letter to Earl Spencer is as follows.
"Palermo, Jan. 7, 1799.
"MY DEAR LORD
"Our news from Naples has been daily from bad to worse. On the 4th,
the enemy was not at Naples. There are parties, in the capital, for
a republic; and another for making the Duke of Parma, who is at
Madrid, king: but, I believe, the fighting party is very small. The
events which have taken place in the kingdom of Naples have been so
rapid and extraordinary, that it appears a dream. The king, God
bless him, is a philosopher; but the great queen feels sensibly all
that has happened. She begs me not to quit Palermo; for that Sir
William and Lady Hamilton, and myself, are her only comforts. I
shall, as is my duty, do every thing in the best manner I am able,
for the honour of our country. General Stuart, from Minorca, calls
for me; Mr. Windham, from Florence, does the same; and the affairs
of Egypt and Malta are endeavouring to be brought to an issue.
Captain Ball has done wonders; and, I trust, will soon succeed. The
bombs, from Malta, go to Egypt, and are to make a vigorous attack
on the shipping at Alexandria. These two points successful, will
set us quite at our ease on the sea. With every sentiment of
respect, believe me, your lordship's most faithful servant,
"Nelson."
The letters to Spencer Smith, and Francis Wherry, Esqrs. contain little
more than a reference to Sir Sidney Smith, as the new defender, by sea,
of the Ottoman empire, and a polite termination of his lordship's public
correspondence with these gentlemen.
What his lordship wrote to Commodore now Admiral Duckworth, contains so
many interesting particulars, that it must necessarily be presented
entire.
"Palermo, 7th Jan. 1799.
"MY DEAR SIR,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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