This excellent letter not only makes amends for all former asperities, but forms a most noble eulogium on the merits of Sir Sidney Smith; who, it must be confessed, had entitled himself, by his skill and valour, even to this proudest of all possible panegyrics from the first of heroes.
The Russian admiral not complying with Lord Nelson's request, as to the restoration of the Leander, his lordship immediately addressed the Chevalier Italinskoy, the Russian minister at the court of their Sicilian Majesties, on the subject: informing him that, whenever the admiral chose to send the Leander to Minorca, the ship would be received. "But," says his lordship, "after even my word not being taken, by his excellency, I cannot again subject myself to a refusal of giving up the Leander, agreeable to the intention of the emperor; though the form of order, on this occasion, was not arrived." His lordship also sent Captain Drummond, with the particulars of this refusal, to Lord Keith; observing, that he should now wait till the Russian admiral sent the Leander to Mahon. Captain Drummond was desired, on failure of meeting with Lord Keith, to proceed immediately to England, and deliver his lordship's letter to the secretary of the Admiralty, acquainting him with the cause of his arrival.
On the 28th, Lord Nelson transmitted to Captain Hope, at the request of his Sicilian Majesty, a diamond ring of considerable value: for having, as it was expressly stated, embarked his Majesty and the Prince Royal in his barge, on the night of December 21, 1798; and which his majesty desired might be accepted, by Captain Hope, as a mark of his royal gratitude. This, and other similar presents of rings and gold boxes, were sent by Sir John Acton, to Sir William Hamilton, from his Sicilian Majesty; with a request that his excellency would have the goodness to present them to the Duke of Bronte, that he might distribute them according to the note enclosed, and in the name of his Sicilian Majesty, as a small mark of his royal gratitude to the several English commanders. The pleasure which this agreeable task afforded Lord Nelson's excellent heart, may be judged of by the following effusion of it's feelings, addressed to Captain Hood on the occasion. "My dear Hood, I never had greater pleasure, than in executing his Sicilian Majesty's orders, for sending you a box from his majesty; and, as the dispatch expresses it—To Captain Hood, for services in the Gulph of Naples, and at Salerno; for his operations on shore, and his care of the castles of Naples." In afterwards describing these presents from his Sicilian Majesty, on writing to England, his lordship informs Mr. Nepean, that each of the captains had a very valuable gold box, set round with diamonds. In the centre of that given to Commodore Troubridge, was his majesty's portrait; and, to him, he also gave an elegant ring. In the centre of the others, were his majesty's cypher of f.r. neatly set in diamonds. His majesty, he adds, has also presented Captain Thomas Masterman Hardy, his lordship's captain in the Foudroyant, with an elegant box, set round with a double row of diamonds, and his portrait in the centre, and an elegant diamond ring; and, to Mr. Tyson, his lordship's secretary, a diamond ring of great value.
Transient, however, seem to have been all the felicities of his lordship's most eventful life. The happiness which he enjoyed, in seeing the companions of his cares and successes thus rewarded with truly royal munificence; while he felt himself remunerated, beyond his proudest hope or expectation; the pleasing sensations which he must necessarily have experienced on beholding the vast and magnificent preparations to celebrate their united atchievments on the anniversary of receiving, at Naples, the first intelligence of the glorious victory off the Nile, which had arrived on the 3d of the preceding September; were not permitted to remain undisturbed in his ever anxious bosom, even for a few days.
On the 31st, his lordship received letters from Malta, which gave birth to most extraordinary suspicions. The agonized feelings of his heroic mind are not to be described; but, nothing could for a moment divert him from the painful discharge of it's duty. In a state of inconceivable agitation, he wrote the following letter to Sir John Acton.
"Palermo, 31st Aug. 1799.
"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."