the life of horatio lord nelson-第42章
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ip's elbow for an hour。 ALL； ALL； will be thrown on you！… I will parry the blow as much as in my power： I foresee much mischief brewing。 God bless your Lordship； I am miserable I cannot assist your operations more。 Many happy returns of the day to you（it was the first of the new year） I never spent so miserable a one。 I am not very tender…hearted； but really the distress here would even move a Neapolitan。〃 Soon afterwards he wrote；〃I have this day saved thirty thousand people from starving； 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 our being witnesses of their distress。 I curse the day I ever served the Neapolitan government。 We have characters； my lord； to lose； these people have none。 Do not suffer their infamous conduct to fall on us。 Our country is just； but severe。 Such is the fever of my brain this minute； that I assure you； on my honour； if the Palermo traitors were here； I would shoot them first； and then myself。 Girgenti is full of corn； the money is ready to pay for it； we do not ask it as a gift。 Oh！ could you see the horrid distress I daily experience； something would be done。 Some engine is at work against us at Naples； and I believe I hit on the proper person。 If you complain he will be immediately promoted； agreeably to the Neapolitan custom。 All I write to you is known at the queen's。 For my own part； I look upon the Neapolitans as the worst of intriguing enemies： every hour shows me their infamy and duplicity。 I pray your lordship be cautious： your honest； open manner of acting will be made a handle of。 When I see you； and tell of their infamous tricks； you will be as much surprised as I am。 The whole will fall on you。〃
Nelson was not； and could not be； insensible to the distress which his friend so earnestly represented。 He begged； almost on his knees； he said； small supplies of money and corn； to keep the Maltese from starving。 And when the court granted a small supply； protesting their poverty； he believed their protestations； and was satisfied with their professions； instead of insisting that the restrictions upon the exportation of corn should be withdrawn。 The anxiety； however； which he endured； affected him so deeply that he said it had broken his spirit for ever。 Happily； all that Troubridge with so much reason foreboded； did not come to pass。 For Captain Ball； with more decision than Nelson himself would have shown at that time and upon that occasion； ventured upon a resolute measure； for which his name would deserve always to be held in veneration by the Maltese； even if it had no other claims to the love and reverence of a grateful people。 Finding it hopeless longer to look for succour or common humanity from the deceitful and infatuated court of Sicily； which persisted in prohibiting by sanguinary edicts the exportation of supplies； at his own risk； he sent his first lieutenant to the port of Girgenti； with orders to seize and bring with him to Malta the ships which were there lying laden with corn； of the numbers of which he had received accurate information。 These orders were executed to the great delight and advantage of the shipowners and proprietors： the necessity of raising the siege was removed； and Captain Ball waited in calmness for the consequences to himself。 The Neapolitan government complained to the English ambassador； and the complaint was communicated to Nelson； who； in return； requested Sir William Hamilton would fully and plainly state； that the act ought not to be considered as any intended disrespect to his Sicilian Majesty； but as of the most absolute and imperious necessity； the alternative being either of abandoning Malta to the French； or of anticipating the king's orders for carrying the corn in those vessels to Malta。 〃I trust；〃 he added； 〃that the government of the country will never again force any of our royal master's servants to so unpleasant an alternative。〃 Thus ended the complaint of the Neapolitan court。 〃The sole result was；〃 says Mr。 Coleridge； 〃that the governor of Malta became an especial object of its hatred； its fears； and its respect。〃
Nelson himself； at the beginning of February； sailed for that island。 On the way he fell in with a French squadron bound for its relief； and consisting of the GENEREUX seventy…four； three frigates； and a corvette。 One of these frigates and the line…of…battle ship were taken； the others escaped； but failed in their purpose of reaching La Valette。 This success was peculiarly gratifying to Nelson； for many reasons。 During some months he had acted as commander…in…chief in the Mediterranean； while Lord Keith was in England。 Lord Keith was now returned； and Nelson had； upon his own plan； and at his own risk； left him to sail for Malta； 〃for which；〃 said he； 〃if I had not succeeded； I might have been broke： and if I had not acted thus； the GENEREUX never would have been taken。〃 This ship was one of those which had escaped from Aboukir。 Two frigates； and the GUILLAUME TELL； eighty…six were all that now remained of the fleet which Buonaparte had conducted to Egypt。 The GUILLAUME TELL was at this time closely watched in the harbour of La Valette； and shortly afterwards； attempting to make her escape from thence； was taken after an action； in which greater skill was never displayed by British ships； nor greater gallantry by an enemy。 She was taken by the FOUDROYANT； LION； and PENELOPE frigate。 Nelson； rejoicing at what he called this glorious finish to the whole French Mediterranean fleet； rejoiced also that he was not present to have taken a sprig of these brave men's laurels。 〃They are；〃 said he； 〃and I glory in them； my children； they served in my school； and all of us caught our professional zeal and fire from the great and good Earl St。 Vincent。 What a pleasure； what happi… ness； to have the Nile fleet all taken； under my orders and regul… ations！〃 The two frigates still remained in La Valette； before its sur… render they stole out； one was taken in the attempt； the other was the only ship of the whole fleet which escaped capture or destruction。
Letters were found on board the GUILLAUME TELL showing that the French were now become hopeless of preserving the conquest which they had so foully acquired。 Troubridge and his brother officers were anxious that Nelson should have the honour of signing the capitulation。 They told； him that they absolutely； as far as they dared； insisted on his staying to do this； but their earnest and affectionate entreaties were vain。 Sir William Hamilton had just been superseded： Nelson had no feeling of cordiality towards Lord Keith； and thinking that after Earl St。 Vincent no man had so good a claim to the command in the Mediterranean as himself； he applied for permission to return to England； telling the First Lord of the Admiralty that his spirit could not submit patiently； and that he was a broken…hearted man。 From the time of his return from Egypt； amid all the honours which were showered upon him； he had suffered many mortifications。 Sir Sidney Smith had been sent to Egypt with orders to take under his command the squadron which Nelson had left there。 Sir Sidney appears to have thought that this command was to be independent of Nelson； and Nelson himself thinking so； determined to return； saying to Earl St。 Vincent； 〃I do feel； for I am a man； that it is impossible for me to serve in these seas with a squadron under a junior officer。〃 Earl St。 Vincent seems to have dissuaded him from this resolution： some heart…burnings； however； still remained； and some incautious expressions of Sir Sidney's were noticed by him in terms of evident displeasure。 But this did not continue long； as no man bore more willing testimony than Nelson to the admirable defence of Acre。
He differed from Sir Sidney as to the policy which ought to be pursued toward the French in Egypt； and strictly commanded him； in the strongest language； not； on any pretence； to permit a single Frenchman to leave the country； saying that he considered it nothing short of madness to permit that band of thieves to return to Europe。 〃No；〃 said he； 〃to Egypt they went with their own consent； and there they shall remain while N
