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uld such an order come at this moment；〃 he said； in a letter previously written to the Admiralty； 〃it would be a case for some consideration； whether Minorca is to be risked； or the two kingdoms of Naples and Sicily； I rather think my decision would be to risk the former。〃 And after he had acted upon this opinion； he wrote in these terms to the Duke of Clarence； with whose high notions of obedience he was well acquainted： 〃I am well aware of the consequences of disobeying my orders； but as I have often before risked my life for the good cause； so I with cheerfulness did my commission； for although a military tribunal may think me criminal； the world will approve of my conduct； and I regard not my own safety when the honour of my king is at stake。〃
Nelson was right in his judgment： no attempt was made on Minorca： and the expulsion of the French from Naples may rather be said to have been effected than accelerated by the English and Portuguese of the allied fleet； acting upon shore； under Troubridge。 The French commandant at St。 Elmo； relying upon the strength of the place； and the nature of the force which attacked it； had insulted Captain Foote in the grossest terms； but CITOYEN Mejan was soon taught better manners； when Trou… bridge； in spite of every obstacle； opened five batteries upon the fort。 He was informed that none of his letters； with the insolent printed words at the top； LIBERTE EQALITE； GUERRE AUX TYRANS； &c。 would be received； but that if he wrote like a soldier and a gentleman he would be answered in the same style。 The Frenchman then began to flatter his antagonist upon the BIENFAISANCE and HUMANITE which； he said； were the least of the many virtues which distinguished Monsieur Troubridge。 Monsieur Troubridge's BIENFAISANCE was at this time thinking of mining the fort。 〃If we can accomplish that；〃 said he；〃I am a strong advocate to send them； hostages and all； to Old Nick； and surprise him with a group of nobility and republicans。 Meantime；〃 he added；〃it was some satisfaction to perceive that the shells fell well； and broke some of their shins。〃 Finally； to complete his character； Mejan offered to surrender for 150；000 ducats。 Great Britain； perhaps； has made but too little use of this kind of artillery； which France has found so effectual towards subjugating the continent： but Troubridge had the prey within his reach； and in the course of a few days； his last battery； 〃after much trouble and palaver；〃 as he said； 〃brought the vagabonds to their senses。〃
Troubridge had more difficulties to overcome this siege； from the character of the Neapolitans who pretended to assist him； and whom he made useful； than even from the strength of the place and the skill of the French。 〃Such damned cowards and villains；〃 he declared； 〃he had never seen before。〃 The men at the advanced posts carried on； what he called； 〃a diabolical good understanding〃 with the enemy； and the workmen would sometimes take fright and run away。 〃I make the best I can；〃 said he； 〃of the degenerate race I have to deal with； the whole means of guns； ammunition； pioneers； &c。； with all materials； rest with them。 With fair promises to the men； and threats of instant death if I find any one erring； a little spur has been given。〃 Nelson said of him with truth； upon this occasion； that he was a first…rate general。 〃I find； sir；〃 said he afterwards in a letter to the Duke of Clarence； 〃that General Koehler does not approve of such irregular proceedings as naval officers attacking and defending fortifications。 We have but one ideato get close alongside。 None but a sailor would have placed a battery only 180 yards from the Castle of St。 Elmo； a soldier must have gone according to art； and the //// way。 My brave Troubridge went straight on； for we had no time to spare。〃
Troubridge then proceeded to Capua； and took the command of the motley besieging force。 One thousand of the best men in the fleet were sent to assist in the siege。 Just at this time Nelson received a peremptory order from Lord Keith to sail with the whole of his force for the protection of Minorca； or； at least； to retain no more than was absolutely necessary at Sicily。 〃You will easily conceive my feelings；〃 said he in communicating this to Earl St。 Vincent； 〃but my mind； as your lordship knows； was perfectly prepared for this order； and it is now； more than ever； made up。 At this moment I will not part with a single ship； as I cannot do that without drawing a hundred and twenty men from each ship； now at the siege of Capua。 I am fully aware of the act I have committed； but I am prepared for any fate which may await my disobedience。 Capua and Gaieta will soon fall； and the moment the scoundrels of French are out of this kingdom I shall send eight or nine ships of the line to Minorca。 I have done what I thought rightothers may think differently； but it will be my consolation that I have gained a kingdom； seated a faithful ally of his Majesty firmly on his throne； and restored happiness to millions。〃
At Capua； Troubridge had the same difficulties as at St。 Elmo； and being farther from Naples； and from the fleet； was less able to overcome them。 The powder was so bad that he suspected treachery； and when he asked Nelson to spare him forty casks from the ships； he told him it would be necessary that some Englishmen should accompany it； or they would steal one…half； and change the other。 〃All the men you see；〃 said he； 〃gentle and simple； are such notorious villains； that it is misery to be with them。〃 Capua； however； soon fell； Gaieta immediately afterwards surrendered to Captain Louis of the MINOTAUR。 Here the commanding officer acted more unlike a Frenchman； Captain Louis said； than any one he had ever met； meaning that he acted like a man of honour。 He required； however； that the garrison should carry away their horses； and other pillaged property： to which Nelson replied； 〃That no property which they did not bring with them into the country could be theirs： and that the greatest care should be taken to prevent them from carrying it away。〃 〃I am sorry；〃 said he to Captain Louis； 〃that you have entered into any altercation。 There is no way of dealing with a Frenchman but to knock him down； to be civil to them is only to be laughed at； when they are enemies。〃
The whole kingdom of Naples was thus delivered by Nelson from the French。 The Admiralty； however； thought it expedient to censure him for disobeying Lord Keith's orders； and thus hazarding Minorca； without； as it appeared to them； any sufficient reason； and also for having landed seamen for the siege of Capua； to form part of an army employed in operations at a distance from the coast； where； in case of defeat； they might have been prevented from returning to their ships； and they enjoined him； 〃not to employ the seamen in like manner in future。〃 This reprimand was issued before the event was known； though； indeed； the event would not affect the principle upon which it proceeded。 When Nelson communicated the tidings of his complete success； he said； in his public letter； 〃that it would not be the less acceptable for having been principally brought about by British sailors。〃 His judgment in thus employing them had been justified by the result； and his joy was evidently heightened by the gratification of a professional and becoming pride。 To the first lord he said； at the same time； 〃I certainly； from having only a left hand； cannot enter into details which may explain the motives that actuated my conduct。 My principle is； to assist in driving the French to the devil； and in restoring peace and happiness to mankind。 I feel that I am fitter to do the action than to describe it。〃 He then added that he would take care of Minorca。
In expelling the French from Naples； Nelson had； with characteristic zeal and ability； discharged his duty； but he deceived himself when he imagined that he had seated Ferdinand firmly on his throne； and that he had restored happiness to millions。 These objects might have been accomplished if it had been possible to inspire virtue and wisdom into a vicious and infatuated court； and if Nelson's eyes had not been； as it were； spell…bound by that unhappy attachment； which had now completely mastered him； he would have seen things as they were； and might； perhaps； have awakened the Sicilian court to a sense of their interest； if not of their duty。 That court employed itself in a miserable round of folly and festivity； while the prisons of Naples were filled with groans； and the scaffolds streamed with blood。 St。 Januarius was solemnly removed from his rank as patron saint of the kingdom； having been convicted of Jacobinism； and St。 Antonio as solemnly installed in his place。 The king； instead of re…establishing order at Naples by his presence； speedily returned to Palermo； to indulge in his favourite amusements。 Nelson； and the ambassador's family； accompanied the court； and Troubridge remained； groaning over the villany and frivolity of those with whom he was compelled to deal。 A party of officers applied to him for a passage to Palermo； to see the procession of St。 Rosalia： he recommended them to exercise their troops； and not behave like children。 It was grief enough for him that the court should be busied in the