our ships before the
city, is beyond all belief: and I have no scruple in declaring my
opinion that, should any event draw us from the kingdom, if the
French remain in any part of it, disturbances will again arise:
for, all order having been completely overturned, it must take a
thorough cleansing, and some little time, to restore tranquillity.
I have the honour to be, with great respect, your lordship's
obedient servant,

"Nelson."

"Right Honourable Lord Keith."

With these accounts of the operations at Naples, copies of which were
transmitted by Lord Nelson, to England, for public information, his
lordship wrote the following private letter to Earl Spencer; in which,
among other interesting particulars, descriptive of his then state, he
alludes to the impropriety of hastily detaching any ships for Minorca.

"Foudroyant, Naples Bay,
13th July 1799.

"MY DEAR LORD,

"I have much to say; but am unable to write, or speak, half so much
as my duty would make it right: therefore, I must be brief. On my
fortunate arrival here, I found a most infamous treaty entered into
with the rebels, in direct disobedience of his Sicilian Majesty's
orders. I had the happiness of saving his majesty's honour;
rejecting, with disdain, any terms but unconditional submission to
rebels. Your lordship will observe my note and opinion to the
cardinal. The rebels came out of the castle with this knowledge,
without any honours; and the principal rebels were seized, and
conducted on board the ships of the squadron. The others, embarked
in fourteen polacres, were anchored under the care of our ships.
His majesty has entirely approved of my conduct in this matter. I
presume to recommend Captain Troubridge for some mark of his
majesty's favour: it would be supposing you, my dear lord, were
ignorant of his merits, was I to say more than that he is a
first-rate general. The king holds his levees on the quarter-deck of
the Foudroyant, at the same hour as he did when in his palace. His
Majesty's health is perfect, and he is in the highest spirits and
good humour. May I offer my kindest respects to Lady Spencer; and,
believe me, I am sensible of her goodness. Lieutenant Parkinson
will, I am sure, meet with your kind protection; he is an officer
of great merit. Lord Keith writes