"Lieutenant-Colonel Strickland, Major Cresswell, and all the officers of marines, and men, merit every praise I can bestow: as does Antonio Saldineo de Gama, and the officers and men belonging to her most faithful majesty the Queen of Portugal; their readiness, on all occasions, does them great honour. The very commanding situation of St. Elmo, rendered our approaches difficult; or, I trust, it would have been reduced much sooner. The ready acquiescence to all our demands, and the assistance received from the Duc di Salandra, I beg, may be made known, by your lordship, to his Sicilian Majesty. "I feel myself also much indebted to Colonel Tschudy, for his great zeal and exertions on all occasions. I have the honour to be, &c. T. Troubridge, The Right Honourable Lord Nelson, K.B." _Articles of Capitulation agreed upon between the Garrison of Fort St. Elmo and the Troops of his Sicilian Majesty and his Allies._ I. The French Garrison of Fort St. Elmo shall surrender themselves prisoners of war to his Neapolitan Majesty and his allies; and shall not serve against any of the powers actually at war with the French republic, until regularly exchanged. II. The English grenadiers shall take possession of the gate of the fort in the course of the day. III. The French garrison shall march out of the fort to-morrow, with their arms, and drums beating. The troops shall lay down their arms on the outside of the gate of the fort; and a detachment of English, Russian, Portuguese, and Neapolitan, troops, shall take possession of the castle. IV. The officers shall keep their arms. V. The garrison shall be embarked on board the English squadron, until the necessary shipping are provided to convey them to France. VI. When the English grenadiers take possession of the gate, all the subjects of his Sicilian Majesty shall be delivered up to the allies. VII. A guard of French soldiers shall be placed round the French colours, to prevent their being destroyed: that guard shall remain until all the garrison be marched out, and it is relieved by an English officer and guard; to whom orders shall be given to strike the French flag and hoist that of his Sicilian Majesty. VIII. All private property shall be reserved for those to whom the same appertains; and all public property shall be given up with the fort, as well as the effects pillaged. IX. The sick, not in a state to be removed, shall remain at Naples, with French surgeons, and shall be taken care of at the expence of the republic. They shall be sent back to France as soon as possible after their recovery. Done at Fort St. Elmo, the 22d Messidor, in the seventh year of the French republic, or 12th July 1799.