the life of horatio lord nelson-第30部分

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d　me　for　any　place　but　with　you。〃

His　mind　was　not　in　a　happier　state　respecting　public　affairs。　〃As　to　politics；〃　said　he；　〃at　this　time　they　are　my　abomination：　the　ministers　of　kings　and　princes　are　as　great　scoundrels　as　ever　lived。　The　brother　of　the　emperor　is　just　going　to　marry　the　great　Something　of　Russia；　and　it　is　more　than　expected　that　a　kingdom　is　to　be　found　for　him　in　Italy；　and　that　the　king　of　Naples　will　be　sacrificed。〃　Had　there　been　a　wise　and　manly　spirit　in　the　Italian　states；　or　had　the　conduct　of　Austria　been　directed　by　anything　like　a　principle　of　honour；　a　more　favourable　opportunity　could　not　have　been　desired　for　restoring　order　and　prosperity　in　Europe；　than　the　misconduct　of　the　French　Directory　at　this　time　afforded。　But　Nelson　perceived　selfishness　and　knavery　wherever　he　looked；　and　even　the　pleasure　of　seeing　a　cause　prosper；　in　which　he　was　so　zealously　engaged；　was　poisoned　by　his　sense　of　the　rascality　of　those　with　whom　he　was　compelled　to　act。　At　this　juncture　intelligence　arrived　that　the　French　fleet　had　escaped　from　Brest；　under　cover　of　a　fog；　passed　Cadiz　unseen　by　Lord　Keith's　squadron；　in　hazy　weather；　and　entered　the　Mediterranean。　It　was　said　to　consist　of　twenty…four　sail　of　the　line；　six　frigates；　and　three　sloops。　The　object　of　the　French　was　to　liberate　the　Spanish　fleet；　form　a　junction　with　them；　act　against　Minorca　and　Sicily；　and　　overpower　our　naval　force　in　the　Mediterranean；　by　falling　in　with　detached　squadrons；　and　thus　destroying　it　in　detail。　When　they　arrived　off　Carthagena；　they　requested　the　Spanish　ships　to　make　sail　and　join；　but　the　Spaniards　replied　they　had　not　men　to　man　them。　To　this　it　was　answered　that　the　French　had　men　enough　on　board　for　that　purpose。　But　the　Spaniards　seem　to　have　been　apprehensive　of　delivering　up　their　ships　thus　entirely　into　the　power　of　such　allies；　and　refused　to　come　out。　The　fleet　from　Cadiz；　however；　consisting　of　from　seventeen　to　twenty　sail　of　the　line；　got　out；　under　Masaredo；　a　man　who　then　bore　an　honourable　name；　which　he　has　since　rendered　infamous　by　betraying　his　country。　They　met　with　a　violent　storm　off　the　coast　of　Oran；　which　dismasted　many　of　their　ships；　and　so　effectually　disabled　them　as　to　prevent　the　junction；　and　frustrate　a　well…planned　expedition。

Before　this　occurred；　and　while　the　junction　was　as　probable　as　it　would　have　been　formidable；　Nelson　was　in　a　state　of　the　greatest　anxiety。　〃What　a　state　am　I　in！〃　said　he　to　Earl　St。　Vincent。　〃If　I　go；　I　risk；　and　more　than　risk；　Sicily；　for　we　know；　from　experience；　that　more　depends　upon　opinion　than　upon　acts　themselves；　and；　as　I　stay；　my　heart　is　breaking。〃　His　first　business　was　to　summon　Troubridge　to　join　him；　with　all　the　ships　of　the　line　under　his　　command；　and　a　frigate；　if　possible。　Then　hearing　that　the　French　had　entered　the　Mediterranean；　and　expecting　them　at　Palermo；　where　he　had　only　his　own　shipwith　that　single　ship　he　prepared　to　make　all　the　resistance　possible。　Troubridge　having　joined　him；　he　left　Captain　E。　J。　Foote；　of　the　SEAHORSE；　to　command　the　smaller　vessels　in　the　bay　of　Naples；　and　sailed　with　six　shipsone　a　Portuguese；　and　a　Portuguese　corvettetelling　Earl　St。　Vincent　that　the　squadron　should　never　fall　into　the　hands　of　the　enemy。　〃And　before　we　are　destroyed；〃　said　he；　〃I　have　little　doubt　but　they　will　have　their　wings　so　completely　clipped　that　they　may　be　easily　overtaken。〃　It　was　just　at　this　time　that　he　received　from　Captain　Hallowell　the　present　of　the　coffin。　Such　a　present　was　regarded　by　the　men　with　natural　astonishment。　One　of　his　old　shipmates　in　the　AGAMEMNON　said；　〃We　shall　have　hot　work　of　it　indeed！　You　see　the　admiral　intends　to　fight　till　he　is　killed；　and　there　he　is　to　be　buried。〃　Nelson　placed　it　upright　against　the　bulkhead　of　his　cabin；　behind　his　chair；　where　he　sat　at　dinner。　The　gift　suited　him　at　this　time。　It　is　said　that　he　was　disappointed　in　the　step…son　whom　he　had　loved　so　dearly　from　his　childhood；　and　who　had　saved　his　life　at　Teneriffe；　and　it　is　certain　that　he　had　now　formed　an　infatuated　attachment　for　Lady　Hamilton；　which　totally　weaned　his　affections　from　his　wife。　Farther　than　this；　there　is　no　reason　to　believe　that　this　most　unfortunate　attachment　was　criminal；　but　this　was　criminality　enough；　and　it　brought　with　it　its　punishment。　Nelson　was　dissatisfied　with　himself；　and　therefore　weary　of　the　world。　This　feeling　he　now　frequently　expressed。　〃There　is　no　true　happiness　in　this　life；〃　said　he；　〃and　in　my　present　state　I　could　quit　it　with　a　smile。〃　And　in　a　letter　to　his　old　friend　Davison　he　said；　〃Believe　me；　my　only　wish　is　to　sink　with　honour　into　the　grave；　and　when　that　shall　please　God；　I　shall　meet　death　with　a　smile。　Not　that　I　am　insensible　to　the　honours　and　riches　my　king　and　country　have　heaped　upon　meso　much　more　than　any　officer　could　deserve；　yet　am　I　ready　to　quit　this　world　of　trouble；　and　envy　none　but　those　of　the　estate　six　feet　by　two。〃

Well　had　it　been　for　Nelson　if　he　had　made　no　other　sacrifices　to　this　unhappy　attachment　than　his　peace　of　mind；　but　it　led　to　the　only　blot　upon　his　public　character。　While　he　sailed　from　Palermo；　with　the　intention　of　collecting　his　whole　force；　and　keeping　off　Maretimo；　either　to　receive　reinforcements　there　if　the　French　were　bound　upwards；　or　to　hasten　to　Minorca　if　that　should　be　their　destination；　Captain　Foote；　in　the　Sea…horse；　with　the　Neapolitan　frigates；　and　some　small　vessels；　under　his　command；　was　left　to　act　with　a　land　force　consisting　of　a　few　regular　troops；　of　four　different　nations；　and　with　the　armed　rabble　which　Cardinal　Ruffo　called　the　Christian　army。　His　directions　were　to　co…operate　to　the　utmost　of　his　power　with　the　royalists；　at　whose　head　Ruffo　had　been　placed；　and　he　had　no　other　instructions　whatever。　Ruffo　advancing　　without　any　plan；　but　relying　upon　the　enemy's　want　of　numbers；　which　prevented　them　from　attempting　to　act　upon　the　offensive；　and　ready　to　take　advantage　of　any　accident　which　might　occur；　approached　Naples。　Fort　St。　Elmo；　which　commands　the　town；　was　wholly　garrisoned　by　the　French　troops；　the　castles　of　Uovo　and　Nuovo；　which　commanded　the　anchorage；　were　chiefly　defended　by　Neapolitan　　revolutionists；　the　powerful　men　among　them　having　taken　shelter　there。　If　these　castles　were　taken；　the　reduction　of　Fort　St。　Elmo　would　be　greatly　expedited。　They　were　strong　places；　and　there　was　reason　to　apprehend　that　the　French　fleet　might　arrive　to　relieve　them。　Ruffo　proposed　to　the　garrison　to　capitulate；　on　condition　that　their　persons　and　property　should　be　guaranteed；　and　that　they　should；　at　their　own　option；　either　be　sent　to　Toulon　or　remain　at　Naples；　without　being　molested　either　in　their　persons　or　families。　This　capitulation　was　accepted：　it　was　signed　by　the　cardinal；　and　the　Russian　and　Turkish　commanders；　and　lastly；　by　Captain　Foote；　as　commander　of　the　British　force。　About　six…and…thirty　hours　afterwards　Nelson　arrived　in　the　bay　with　a　force　which　had　joined　him　during　his　cruise；　consisting　of　seventeen　sail　of　the　line；　with　1700　troops　on　board；　and　the　Prince　Royal　of　Naples　in　the　admiral's　ship。　A　flag　of　truce　was　flying　on　the　castles；　and　on　board　the　SEAHORSE。　Nelson　made　a　signal　to　annul　the　treaty；　declaring　that　he　would　grant　rebels　no　other　terms　than　those　of　unconditional　submission。　The　cardinal　objected　to　this：　nor　could　all　the　arguments　of　Nelson；　Sir　W。　Hamilton；　and　Lady　Hamilton；　who　took　an　active　part　in　the　conference；　convince　him　that　a　treaty　of　such　a　nature；　solemnly　concluded；　could　honourably　be　set　aside。　He　retired　at　last；　silenced　by　Nelson's　authority；　but　not　convinced。　Captain　Foote　was　sent　out　of　the　bay；　and　the　garrisons；　taken　out　of　the　castles　under　pretence　of　carrying　the　treaty　into　effect；　were　delivered　over　as　rebels　to　the　vengeance　of　the　Sicilian　court。　A　deplorable　transaction！　a　stain　upon　the　memory　of　Nelson　and　the　honour　of　England！　To　palliate　it　would　be　in　vain；　to　justify　it　would　be　wicked：　there　is　no　alternative；　for　one　who　will　not　make　himself　a　participator　in　guilt；　but　to　record　the　disgraceful　story　with　sorrow　and　with　shame。

Prince　Francesco　Caraccioli；　a　younger　branch　of　one　of　the　noblest　Neapolitan　families；　escaped　from　one　of　these　castles　before　it　capitulated。　He　was　at　the　head　of　the　marine；　and　was　nearly　seventy　years　of　age；　bearing　a　high　character；　both　for　professional　and　personal　merit。　He　had　accompanied　the　court　to　Sicily；　but　when　the　revolutionary　government；　or　Parthenopean　Republic；　as　it　was　called；　issued　an　edict；　ordering　all　absent　Neapolitans　to　return　on　pain　of　confiscation　of　their　property；　he　solicited　and　obtained　permission　of　the　king　to　return；　his　estates　being　very　great。　It　is　said　that　the　king；　when　he　granted　him　this　permission；　warned　him　not　to　take　any　part　in　politics；　expressing　at　the　same　time　his　own　persuasion　that　he　should　recover　his　kingdom。　But　neither　the　king；　nor　he　himself；　ought　to　have　imagined　that；　in　such　times；　a　man　of　such　reputation　would　be　permitted　to　remain　inactive；　and　it　soon　appeared　that　Caraccioli　was　again　in　command　of　the　navy；　and　serving　under　the　republic　against　his　late　sovereign。　The　sailors　reported　that　he　was　forced　to　act　thus；　and　this　was　believed；　till　it　was　seen　that　he　directed　ably　the　offensive　operations　of　the　revolutionists；　and　did　not　avail　himself　of　opportunities　for　escaping　when　they　offered。　When　the　recovery　of　Naples　was　evidently　near；　he　applied　to　Cardinal　Ruffo；　and　to　the　Duke　of　Calvirrano；　for　protection；　expressing　his　hope　that　the　few　days　during　which　he　had　been　forced　to　obey　the　French　would　not　outweigh　forty　years　of　faithful　services；　but　perhaps　not　receiving　such　assurances　as　he　wished；　and　knowing　too　well　the　temper　of　the　Sicilian　court；　he　endeavoured　to　secrete　himself；　and　a　price　was　set　upon　his　head。　More　unfortunately　for　others　than　for　himself；　he　was　brought　in　alive；　having　been　discovered　in　the　disguise　of　a　peasant；　and　carried　one　morning　on　board　Lord　Nelson's　ship；　with　his　hands　tied　behind　him。

Caraccioli　was　well　known　to　the　British　officers；　and　had　been　ever　highly　esteemed　by　all　who　knew　him。　Captain　Hardy　ordered　him　i