der of the French troops in Capua, to state that, on
condition of immediately giving up Capua and Gaieta, both being under
his command, the French garrisons, after laying down their arms, should
be permitted to go to France without any restrictions; but, if this were
not complied with, they should be considered as prisoners of war, with
as degrading terms as it was in his power to give them: in short, the
allies must dictate the terms. To this letter, there was a remarkable
postscript; which serves to shew, with what marked contempt his lordship
regarded those whom he had reason to consider as traitors--"There is a
person," says his lordship, "who has been a _notorious rebel;_ but, now,
_pretends_ to serve his king faithfully. If he should attempt to come
even into your presence, I earnestly request, that you will never
voluntarily admit him to your sight, much less speak to him; for honour
and loyalty, which you possess, never ought to be contaminated with
infamy and rebellion. His name is said to be _Roccaromara_." There can
be no doubt, that Lord Nelson had good reasons for this positive
caution: the want of which might, perhaps, have been prejudicial to the
expedition; if not fatal to this his lordship's favourite commander, for
whose honour and welfare he was to the full as solicitous as for his
own.

Just as every thing was arranged, ready to march against Capua, the
event which his lordship had anticipated in his letter to Earl Spencer
actually occurred. A peremptory order arrived, on the 19th, from Lord
Keith, directing him to detach, immediately, from the Island of Sicily,
the whole of his squadron--or such part, at least, as might not be
necessary in that island--for the protection of Minorca. Lord Nelson,
however, well knowing, that Lord Keith, at the time of sending this
order, could not be informed of the change of affairs in the kingdom of
Naples, where all the marines, and a considerable body of seamen, were
now landed, in order to drive the French scoundrels out of the
kingdom--which was likely, he said, with God's blessing, to be very soon
effected, when a part of the squadron should be instantly sent--he
thought it right, till the French were all driven from Capua, not to
obey his lordship's order for sending down any part of the squadron
under his command. After stating these reasons, as his apology for thus
acting, his lordship thus concludes--"I am perfectly aware of the
consequences of disobeying t