"MY DEAR SIR,
"I send your excellency a letter from Captain Ball, of his majesty's ship Alexander, with two papers enclosed. I cannot bear the thought of what the papers convey; but it is my duty, as a British admiral, to ask of your excellency an explanation of this very extraordinary business—which, I trust in God, is entirely false, as far as relates to his Sicilian Majesty and Prince Luzzi! If this man is an unauthorized person, his majesty will have no difficulty in approving of my condemning him as a spy; and, as such, ordering him to be hanged. But, what shall I say, if Prince Luzzi has authorized this man to enter La Vilette, and to communicate with the enemy? I must say, that the minister has betrayed his trust; for I never will believe, that their Sicilian Majesties could treat in such a manner his Britannic Majesty, my royal master. On your excellency's communication of his Sicilian Majesty's pleasure, depends the line of conduct which my duty will call upon me to perform. I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, your excellency's obedient servant,
"Bronte Nelson."
"His Excellency, Sir John Acton, Bart."
Happily, this alarm turned out to be unfounded; but the circumstance serves, nevertheless, to assist in demonstrating the jealous attention of his lordship to whatever might be supposed capable of affecting either the national honour or his own. In a few days, having fully investigated the affair, he wrote thus to Captain Ball—"My dear Ball, Mr. Alos is, doubtless, a scoundrel. He had persuaded some here, that he had an interview with Vaubois; which, I believe, is a lie: and, as to his conduct with the Maltese, it was, probably, to shew his consequence. I am sure, the good queen never had a thought of any under-hand work against us; therefore, I would recommend sending him here with a kick in the breech, and let all the matter drop."
In a letter of this date, August 31, Lord Nelson thus laments, to Commodore Troubridge, the situation in which he finds himself. "Our joint exertions," he says, "have been used, to get the king to go to Naples; but, of no avail; the Austrians will be there before him. I do not expect any of the Russian troops this some time to come. I am, indeed, sick and tired of this want of energy; and, when I find the impossibility of being longer useful, I will retire from this inactive service." He complains, also, to Lord Spencer, in a letter written about this time, of the uncomfortableness of his situation: for, he says, plain common sense points out that the king should return to Naples; but, nothing can move him. "Believe me," his lordship adds, "I shall do my best, in all circumstances. But, I am almost blind; and, truly, very unwell; and, which does not mend matters, I see no king in Europe really assisting these good monarchs, but our gracious sovereign."
In this unenviable state of mental anxiety, and corporeal lassitude, was our justly renowned hero, at the period of those preparations being completed, which were calculated to display him, in the view of an enraptured people, as the greatest and most felicitous of mortals; nor did his admirable heart, amidst all it's oppressions, reject a temporary participation in the bliss which was so amply provided for his enjoyment,
On the 3d of September, their Sicilian Majesties gave their splendid Fête Champêtre in the royal gardens at Palermo, to celebrate the recovery of the kingdom of Naples under the auspices of Lord Nelson. A grand temple of Fame was erected, on this occasion; in which were three figures, the size and exact resemblance of life, beautifully modelled in wax. The centre figure represented Admiral Lord Nelson, Duke of Bronte, dressed in a full British uniform; as conducted, by a figure of Sir William Hamilton, to receive from the hand of a third, resembling Lady Hamilton in the character of Victory, the laurel wreath of triumph which adorned the hero's brow. Before the steps of this temple, their Sicilian Majesties, with all the royal family, stood ready to receive the three illustrious characters thus represented; and, on their approach, after publicly embracing them, the king, with his own hand, took the laurel wreath from the wax figure, and placed it on the head of the real hero, who wore it during the whole of the entertainment. Sir William, and his lady, were also presented with similar investments; the queen thus honouring her ladyship, and his majesty Sir William. On the robe of the figure of Victory were embroidered the names of all those heroes, in particular, who had fought at the battle of the Nile; and, on various Egyptian pyramids, placed around the several temples of the garden, were inscribed the names of the most distinguished English, Neapolitan, Russian, and Turkish, heroes of the war, with appropriate verses to each. Their majesties received the company; which consisted of some of the principal nobility of Naples as well as of Palermo, with all the British, Russian, and Turkish, officers of the respective squadrons. Prince Leopold, their majesties youngest surviving son, then nine years of age, who was educating for the navy, did the honours of the evening, in his midshipman's uniform: and all the three princesses, as well as the consort of the hereditary prince, and most other ladies, wore some ornament allusive to Lord Nelson and his victories round their necks. The entertainment commenced with a most brilliant and magnificent fire-work: representing the English and French fleets at Aboukir, the ever-memorable battle off the Nile, and the total defeat of the French; terminating with the explosion of L'Orient, and the blowing up of the tri-coloured flag. The queen, at this representation, said to Cadir Bey, the Turkish admiral—"On this day, last year, we received from Lady Hamilton intelligence of this great man's victory; which not only saved your country, and our's, but all Europe!" After the fire-works, a cantata was performed, entitled the Happy Concord. This piece, which was written purposely on the occasion, expressed the general joy for the deliverance of the two Sicilies; loyal wishes for the prosperity of their sovereigns, and the royal family, as well as for those of their worthy allies; and particular acknowledgments to the British hero. The music was most excellent; and all the opera band, with Senesino at their head, sung—"Rule Britannia!" and "God save the King!" in which they were joined by the whole assembly, who had been previously drilled to the English pronunciation.
About the time of this grand festival, an unfortunate affray between the Turkish seamen and some of the Sicilians, occurred at a tavern, in Palermo; and was carried to such an excess, that many men of both countries lost their lives on the occasion. The quarrel originated in the superstition of the Sicilians; who, like all the vulgar Italians, when they address the Turks, rudely tell them, that they are not Christians, but beasts. The Turks, after getting on board their ships, continued to wrangle among themselves; and were, at length, in such a state of mutiny, that Cadir Bey, their commander in chief, became greatly terrified. Lord Nelson, however, being made acquainted with the affair, and having a great friendship for this Turkish admiral, immediately offered him his services; and, the next day, very calmly going on board, accompanied by Sir William and Lady Hamilton, speedily quelled the mutiny. It appears, however, to have soon again broken out: having been excited, it is said, by Patrona Bey, who was desirous of supplanting Cadir Bey; but who, not very long afterwards, had rendered himself so obnoxious to the men whom he thus endeavoured to delude, that they suddenly rose on him, and literally cut him to pieces. It was well, therefore, that the generous friendship of Lord Nelson had impelled him to pen a letter to the Grand Signior, previously to Cadir Bey's departure, that he might protect this worthy man from any misrepresentation respecting the fatal affray with the Sicilians; as, without such a powerful advocate, it is highly probable that Cadir Bey would have lost his situation, if not his life: instead of which, he obtained the merited approbation of the Grand Signior, by this epistle; which was inclosed in a letter to the Captain Pacha—and a copy of it also sent to Spencer Smith, Esq. the minister at Constantinople—of the same date. The letter to the Grand Signior was expressed in the following terms.
"Palermo, 10th Sept. 1799.