the life of horatio lord nelson-第38章
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risoned 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 immedi… ately to be unbound； and to be treated with all those attentions which he felt due to a man who； when last on board the FOUDROYANT； had been received as an admiral and a prince。 Sir William and Lady Hamilton were in the ship； but Nelson； it is affirmed； saw no one except his own officers during the tragedy which ensued。 His own determination was made； and he issued an order to the Neapolitan commodore； Count Thurn； to assemble a court…martial of Neapolitan officers； on board the British flag…ship； proceed immediately to try the prisoner； and report to him； if the charges were proved； what punishment he ought to suffer。 These proceedings were as rapid as possible； Caraccioli was brought on board at nine in the forenoon； and the trial began at ten。 It lasted two hours： he averred in his defence that he had acted under compulsion； having been compelled to serve as a common soldier； till he consented to take command of the fleet。 This； the apologists of Lord Nelson say； he failed in proving。 They forget that the possibility of proving it was not allowed him； for he was brought to trial within an hour after he was legally in arrest； and how； in that time； was he to collect his witnesses？ He was found guilty； and sentenced to death； and Nelson gave orders that the sentence should be carried into effect that evening； at five o'clock； on board the Sicilian frigate； LA MINERVA； by hanging him at the fore…yard…arm till sunset； when the body was to be cut down and thrown into the sea。 Caraccioli requested Lieut。 Parkinson； under whose custody he was placed； to intercede with Lord Nelson for a second trialfor this； among other reasons； that Count Thurn； who presided at the court…martial； was notoriously his personal enemy。 Nelson made answer； that the prisoner had been fairly tried by the officers of his own country； and he could not interfere； forgetting that； if he felt himself justified in ordering the trial and the execution； no human being could ever have questioned the propriety of his interfering on the side of mercy。 Caraccioli then entreated that he might be shot。 〃I am an old man； sir；〃 said he： 〃I leave no family to lament me； and therefore cannot be supposed to be very anxious about prolonging my life； but the disgrace of being hanged is dreadful to me。〃 When this was repeated to Nelson； he only told the lieutenant； with much agitation； to go and attend his duty。 As a last hope； Caraccioli asked the lieutenant if he thought an application to Lady Hamilton would be beneficial？ Parkinson went to seek her； she was not to be seen on this occasion； but she was present at the execution。 She had the most devoted attachment to the Neapolitan court； and the hatred which she felt against those whom she regarded as its enemies； made her at this time forget what was due to the character of her sex as well as of her country。 Here； also； a faithful historian is called upon to pronounce a severe and unqualified condemnation of Nelson's conduct。 Had he the authority of his Sicilian majesty for proceeding as he did？ If so； why was not that authority produced？ If not； why were the proceedings hurried on without it？ Why was the trial precipitated； so that it was impossible for the prisoner； if he had been innocent； to provide the witnesses； who might have proved him so？ Why was a second trial refused； when the known animosity of the president of the court against the prisoner was considered？ Why was the execution hastened； so as to preclude any appeal for mercy； and render the prerogative of mercy useless？ Doubtless； the British Admiral seemed to himself to be acting under a rigid sense of justice； but to all other persons it was obvious that he was influenced by an infatuated attachmenta baneful passion； which destroyed his domestic happiness； and now； in a second instance； stained ineffaceably his public character。
The body was carried out to a considerable distance； and sunk in the bay； with three double…headed shot； weighing 250 lbs。； tied to its legs。 Between two or three weeks afterward； when the king was on board the FOUD
