red the
accomplishment of his object. He tried, in particular, on this occasion,
for the possession of Malta, all the arts of that powerful eloquence
which flowed so naturally from his pen; and he might well say, as he
did, in a letter of the 10th of November, to Mr. Nepean, "it has been no
fault of the navy, that Malta has not been attacked by land; but we have
neither the means ourselves, nor influence with those who have the
power." In short, the history of this protracted siege, including all
the military and political perplexities with which our hero's naval
operations were entangled, would alone form a volume of no
inconsiderable magnitude.

It appears that, about this time, suspicions were entertained, by Sir
John Acton, respecting our intentions with regard to Malta; which first
manifested themselves in a remark addressed to Lord Nelson, that the
flag of the order was to be hoisted, instead of the three flags, when
that island should be taken. This observation, he remarks, in a letter
immediately written to Sir John, dated at Palermo, 18th November 1799,
seems to convey, that his sentiments of respect for his Sicilian
Majesty's flag were lessened. "I send you," says his lordship, with that
noble frankness, and prompt decision, for which he was ever remarkable,
"two papers, on which my order to good Captain Ball was founded. If I
have erred, it is not too late to call back my order; and, if you think
so, I shall be happy to meet your excellency, and the minister of
England and Russia, on this subject. There is not, I can assure you,
that man on earth, who would so strongly unite the two monarchs whom we
serve as myself; and may perdition seize the wretch who would do the
least thing towards lessening that harmony! And could it ever happen,
that any English minister wanted to make me an instrument of hurting the
feelings of his Sicilian Majesty, I would give up my commission sooner
than do it. I am open to your excellency; and, I think, you are so to
me. The interests of our sovereigns require it; and, I am sure, that we
both only think of uniting the courts of London and Naples still closer
together. I am placed in such a situation--a subject of one king, by
birth; and, as far as is consistent with my allegiance to that king, a
voluntary subject of his Sicilian Majesty--that, if any man attempted to
separate my two kings, by all that is sacred, I should consider even
putting that man to death as a meritorious act