re going, together, to
Palermo and Malta. "If," says his lordship, "Sir James St. Clair, or
General Fox, had felt themselves authorized to have given us two
thousand troops, I think that Malta, by this time, would have fallen;
and our poor ships been released from the hardest service I have ever
seen. The going away of the Russians, has almost done me up; but the
King of Naples has ordered two thousand six hundred troops from Sicily,
to assist Graham, and they are to be under our command. It is true, they
are not good soldiers; but, they will ease our's in the fatigues of
duty. The feeding the inhabitants of Malta, and paying two thousand of
the people who bear arms, has been a continual source of uneasiness to
my mind. His Sicilian Majesty has done more than it was possible to
expect he had the ability of performing; for the resources of his
kingdom are hardly yet come round, and his demands are excessive from
all quarters of his dominions. Lord Keith will now be able to judge,
with his own eyes and ears, and your lordship will see his report. The
loyalty and attachment of their Sicilian Majesties to our king and
country is such, that I would venture to lay down my head to be cut off,
if they would not rather lose their kingdom of Naples, than hold it on
terms from Austria and the French, by a separation from their alliance
with England. There is not a thing which his majesty can desire, that
their majesties of the two Sicilies will not have the greatest pleasure
in complying with. I have, before, ventured on the character of their
Sicilian majesties. The king is a real good man, but inclined to be
positive in his opinion; the queen is certainly a great monarch, and a
true daughter of Maria Theresa. I am just favoured with your letter of
December 12th; which, although so entirely contrary to my expectations,
cannot alter my respect for all your kindness. I am in debt, from my
situation; but, time and care will get me out of it. Since May 1798, I
have had all the expence of a commander in chief, without even the
smallest advantage. Lord Keith," concludes his lordship, "shall find, in
me, an officer ever ready to anticipate his wishes, so long as my health
permits."

Though Lord Nelson does not absolutely complain of his then ill health,
he was certainly much indisposed; and, but a few weeks before, had
undergone a painful course of electricity, at Palermo, from which he
entertained hopes of recovering the sight of his l