Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

"been attacked by land; but we have "neither the means ourselves, nor in"fluence with those who have.' The same causes of demurral existed which prevented British troops from assisting in the expulsion of the French from Rome. Sir James Erskine was expecting General Fox, he could not act without orders; and not having, like Nelson, that lively spring of hope within him, which partakes enough of the nature of faith to work miracles in war, he thought it "evident, that unless a re"spectable land force, in numbers suffi"cient to undertake the siege of such a 66 garrison, in one of the strongest places "of Europe, and supplied with propor❝tionate artillery and stores, were sent 66 against it, no reasonable hope could be "entertained of its surrender."-Nelson groaned over the spirit of over-reasoning caution, and unreasoning obedience. "My "heart," said he, " is almost broken. If "the enemy gets supplies in, we may bid "adieu to Malta :-all the force we can col"lect would then be of little use against

"the strongest place in Europe.-To say "that an officer is never, for any object, to "alter his orders, is what I cannot compre"hend. The circumstances of this war so "often vary, that an officer has almost every "moment to consider, what would my su. "periors direct, did they know what is 66 passing under my nose. But, sir," said he, writing to the Duke of Clarence, “I "find few think as I do. To obey orders " is all perfection. To serve my king, and "to destroy the French, I consider as the "great order of all, from which little ones (6 spring and if one of these militate "against it, (for who can tell exactly at 66 a distance,) I go back, and obey the great "order and object, to down,-down with "the damned French villains!-My blood "boils at the name of Frenchman!"

At length Gen. Fox arrived at Minorca, and, at length, permitted Col. Graham to go to Malta, but with means miserably limited. In fact the expedition was at a stand for want of money; when Troubridge arriving at Messina, to co-operate

in it, and finding this fresh delay, immediately offered all that he could command of his own. "I procured him, my lord,” said he to Nelson, "fifteen thousand of my "cobs :-every farthing, and every atom "of me shall be devoted to the cause.'

92

"What can this mean," said Nelson, when he learnt that Col. Graham was ordered not to incur any expense for stores, or any articles except provisions!" the "cause cannot stand still for want of a lit❝tle money. If nobody will pay it, I will “sell Bronte, and the Emperor of Russia's "box." And he actually pledged Bronte for £6600 if there should be any difficulty about paying the bills. The long delayed expedition was thus, at last, sent forth: but Troubridge little imagined in what scenes of misery he was to bear his part. He looked to Sicily for supplies it was the interest, as well as the duty, of the Sicilian government to use every exertion for furnishing them and Nelson, and the British ambassador, were on the spot to press upon them the necessity of exertion.

:

But, though Nelson saw with what a knavish crew the Sicilian court was surrounded, he was blind to the vices of the court itself; and resigning himself wholly to Lady Hamilton's influence, never even suspected the crooked policy which it was remorselessly pursuing. The Maltese and the British in Malta, severely felt it. Troubridge, who had the truest affection for Nelson, knew his infatuation, and feared that it might prove injurious to his character, as well as fatal to an enterprise, which had begun so well, and carried on so patiently. "My lord," said he, writing to him from the siege, "we are dying off fast for want. "I learn that Sir William Hamilton says "Prince Luzzi refused corn, some time 66 ago, and Sir William does not think "it worth while making another applica ❝tion. If that be the case, I wish he com"manded this distressing scene, instead "of me. Puglia had an immense harvest:

66

near thirty sail left Messina, before I did, "to load corn. Will they let us have 66 any? if not, a short time will decide

[ocr errors]

"the business. The German interest pre"vails. I wish I was at your lordship's "elbow for an hour.-All, all, will be "thrown on you!-I will parry the blow 66 as much as in my power: I foresee much "mischief brewing.-God bless your lord-66 ship! I am miserable, I cannot assist 66 your operations more. Many happy re"turns of the day to you-(it was the "first of the new year)-I never spent .66 so miserable a one. I am not very ten"der hearted; but really the distress here "would even move a Neapolitan." Soon afterwards he wrote: "I have this day "saved thirty thousand people from starv❝ing; but with this day my ability ceases. "As the government are bent on starving ❝us, I see no alternative, but to leave these "poor unhappy people to perish, without 66 our being witnesses of their distress. I "curse the day I ever served the Nea"politan government.-We have charac"ters, my lord, to lose; these people have

66

none. Do not suffer their infamous "conduct to fall on us. Our country is

« ПредишнаНапред »