y excited the compassion of their
majesties for the oppressed, necessarily called forth their indignation
against the oppressors: and, with the relief sent under convoy of La
Minerve, for the most distressed of the former; a judge was sent out by
his Sicilian Majesty, on board that vessel, charged with a special
commission for the trial and execution of the most criminal among the
latter.

In writing, on the 12th of April, to the Earl of St. Vincent, respecting
these events, his lordship says--"Captain Troubridge is in complete
possession of Procida, Ischia, and Capri; the inhabitants of which
islands have joyfully hoisted his Sicilian Majesty's colours, cut down
the Tree of Liberty, and delivered up all the municipality and the
detested Jacobins; all of whom are confined on board ship, and in the
chateau of Ischia. The French in Naples are not more than two thousand,
the civic guards about twenty thousand; but, as these last will not
remain fighting for the French if there is any risk, I am warranted in
saying that ten thousand troops would place the king again on his
throne." The health of his lordship appears to have been, at this
period, very indifferent. Indeed, the air of Sicily seems by no means
to have ever agreed with him. He says, in this letter, speaking of Sir
William and Lady Hamilton--"We, of this house, are all anxious to get
home; yet, in the present moment, cannot move. Indeed, we have been the
main-spring, joined with you, that have kept, and are keeping, this so
much out of repair machine from breaking to pieces." The difficulties,
indeed, of supporting a government every way so feeble in what
constitutes the true strength of a state, perplexed our hero in no small
degree. He saw, every where, that inactivity and indecision which so
little accorded with his own prompt and active mind; and he languished
for the busy scenes of action, from which he was detained by the alarms
of their Sicilian Majesties, and the constant claims on the wisdom of
his councils, which they could not always find the means, or even the
firmness, completely to carry into execution.

Captain Ball had transmitted a painful picture of the wretched state of
the inhabitants of Malta, but their Sicilian Majesties were incapable of
affording them relief; Captain Troubridge had been obliged to part with
all his flour, to preserve the recovered islands from starving. "I
have," says his lordship, in another letter to the Earl of St. Vin