ects of discretional discussion
for mutual consideration, which were not possible to be transacted in
writing, and consequently required the talents and address judiciously
employed on the occasion. Lord Hood was no stranger to the superlative
ability which he possessed for negotiation; and how much more rarely
that quality is to be found in British naval officers, than the natural
bravery which seems common to all, or even the great nautical skill
which may justly be boasted by most of them.

It was not till the 11th of September, that Captain Nelson arrived, in
the Agamemnon, at Naples; and so effectually did he accomplish the
objects of his mission, that Sir William Hamilton, who immediately
communicated the intelligence of Toulon's being in possession of Lord
Hood to General Acton, procured two thousand of his Sicilian majesty's
best troops to be embarked, the 16th, on board two line of battle ships,
two frigates, two corvettes, and one Neapolitan transport vessel.

The next day, September 17, Sir William Hamilton sent intelligence of
the above particulars to England, which appeared in the London Gazette,
dated Whitehall, October 12, 1793: where it is added, that a Spanish
frigate, returning to Toulon, had likewise taken some Neapolitan troops
on board; that three more battalions were that night to embark at Gaeta,
on board of two Neapolitan frigates, two brigantines, and nine large
polacres; that, in a week or ten days, the Neapolitan government were to
send off to Toulon the remaining ships, and two thousand more men, with
thirty-two pieces of regimental artillery, and plenty of provisions; and
that, should the wind remain as it then was, these succours might reach
Toulon in five days, or sooner.

In the mean time, Captain Nelson had been introduced to the King and
Queen of Naples, from whom he met with a most cordial and gracious
reception: nor must his singular previous introduction, by Sir William,
to Lady Hamilton, be passed over, without particular notice; on the
result of which, so much of the felicity of this exalted hero's future
life seems evidently to have in a superlative degree depended.

On Sir William Hamilton's returning home, after having first beheld
Captain Nelson, he told his lady that he was about to introduce a little
man to her acquaintance, who could not boast of being very handsome:
"but," added Sir William, "this man, who is an English naval officer,
Captain Nelson, will become the grea