Nelson's Lady Hamilton by Meynell, Esther (surface ebook reader txt) 📕

be imagined that Emma was eager to be with the admiral in the British flagship, in the very thick of stirring events, and it is evident that he did not oppose the wish—indeed, he had written to her a few days earlier—

"It gave me great pain to hear both Sir William and yourself were so very unwell. I wrote to Sir William yesterday that if you both thought the sea air would do you good, I have plenty of room. I can make for you private apartments, and I give you my honour the sea is so smooth that no glass was smoother."

Evidently his promise of fair weather was fulfilled, for Sir William Hamilton wrote to Acton, when off Ustica, on the 22nd of June—

" We are stealing on with light winds, and it is very pleasant, and our admirals and captains are impatient to serve his Sicilian Majesty and save his capital from destruction. I believe the business will be soon done when the fleet appears in the Bay of Naples."

But when the Foudroyant sailed into the Bay Nelson saw the white flag of truce flying from the castles of Uovo and Nuovo, where the Neapolitan Jacobins had betaken themselves, and the same flag flying on board the Seahorse frigate, Captain James Foote. Captain Footewas the senior British officer left behind by Troubridge, and on the very day before Nelson's arrival he and Cardinal Ruffo had signed a treaty of capitulation with the rebels, granting them all the honours of war. On learning these facts Nelson acted with his usual promptitude. Armed as he was with powers from the King of Naples beyond any that had been granted to Ruffo, he at once signalled to annul the treaty, which he declared with vehement vexation was "infamous." He considered, with the practical justice of a seaman, " that the arrival of the British fleet has completely destroyed the compact, as would that of the French if they had the power (which, thank God, they have not) to come to Naples."He was willing to grant terms to the French garrison in the castle of St. Elmo, if they would surrender the stronghold within two hours of being summoned,

for he regarded them simply in the light of ordinary enemies; being French they owed no allegiance to the Sicilian sovereigns, and were not traitors like the Neapolitan garrisons of Uovo and Nuovo. To them he sent a brief and stern notification that Rear-Admiral Lord Nelson "will not permit them to embark or quit those places. They must surrender themselves to his Majesty's royal mercy."

Ruffo opposed Nelson and resented his superior powers. Nelson wrote to Rear-Admiral Duckworth on the 25th of June: "As you will believe, the cardinal and myself have begun our career by a complete difference of opinion. He will send the rebels to Toulon : I say they shall not go." Sir William Hamilton was in entire agreement with Nelson: writing to Acton the very day that the Foudroyant reached Naples Bay, he spoke of the treaty granted by Ruffo as "shameful," and referred to the armistice of twenty days—which was demanded by the rebels in hope of the appearance of the French fleet—as being absolutely annulled by the mere appearance of the British squadron. Nelson also, it will be remembered, makes this point.

The day after the arrival of the Foudroyant, the 25th of June, Ruffo came on board to confer with the admiral. Sir William Hamilton was present at the interview, as well as Lady Hamilton, who was very useful both to her husband

218 NELSON'S LADY HAMILTON

and to Nelson in interpreting and taking notes. The meeting was stormy and protracted: the cardinal was obstinate, and the admiral not to be moved—for there was iron as well as fire in Nelson. Sir William wrote to Acton after a second interview between the two, that " A little of my phlegm was necessary between the cardinal and Lord Nelson, or all would have been up the very first day, and the cardinal has written to thank me and Lady Hamilton."

Emma was gloriously in the midst of everything—the confidante of a queen, the friend of the greatest seaman of his time. In one of his letters to Acton, Sir William Hamilton writes: "As Lord Nelson is now telling Lady Hamilton what he wishes to say to the queen, you will probably know from the queen more than I do of Lord Nelson's intentions." It would be possible to read into this a hint of pique, were it not for the easy-going nature and unjealous temperament of the British Ambassador, who admired Nelson almost as fervently as did his wife. Emma was in daily communication with Maria Carolina, and the Queen, on her side, wrote constantly and at length. On the 25th of June she writes from Palermo that she has just received Emma's letter, and is sending back the same boat with her reply, wishing "it had wings to reach you sooner." Then she sets forth with considerable precision her ideas as to the treatment of the rebels—she

WITH MINIATURE

GEORGE ROMNEY

is all for justice untempered with mercy: " To treat with such villainous rebels is impossible— it must be put an end to. The sight of the brave English squadron is my hope. . . . The rebel patriots must lay down their arms, and surrender at discretion to the pleasure of the king. Then, in my opinion, an example should be made of some of the leaders of the representatives, and the others should be transported under pain of death if they return into the dominions of the king." There were many women mixed up in the insurrection