ery day, Lady Hamilton assisted and advised with the
King and Queen of Naples, and their jewels, cloaths, &c. were conveyed
in boxes, during the night. Neither Sir William Hamilton, nor Lord
Nelson, for several days, judged it safe to appear publicly at the
palace; but his lordship secretly accompanied Lady Hamilton, one
evening, for the purpose of exploring a subterraneous passage leading
from the queen's bedchamber to the sea, by which it was agreed that they
should get off; and settled every preliminary preparation with the few
loyal nobility in whom the royal family could confide. Great anxiety was
expressed for the cardinals, and other members of the Romish church, who
had taken refuge, in Naples, from French persecution, and might now be
expected to fall the first victims of their cruelty; but Lord Nelson
desired they might be humanely informed that, on coming in boats
alongside any of his ships, and displaying their red stockings, they
should be instantly received on board.

In the midst of this important business, his lordship had written, on
the 18th, the following very concise epistle to Earl Spencer.

Naples, Dec. 18, 1798.

"MY DEAR LORD,

"There is an old saying--that, when things are at the worst, they
must mend." Now, the mind of man cannot fancy things worse than
they are here. But, thank God, my health is better; my mind never
firmer; and my heart in the right trim, to comfort, relieve, and
protect, those who it is my duty to afford assistance to. Pray, my
lord, assure our gracious sovereign--that, whilst I live, I will
support his glory; and that, if I fall, it shall be in a manner
worthy of your lordship's faithful and obliged

"Nelson."

"I must not write more. Every word may be a text for a long
letter."

In spite of every precaution, however, an idea of what was going
forward, seems to have prevailed among the people; and, on the 20th,
riotous proceedings began to take place, and some murders were
committed, which filled the royal family, and their loyal adherents,
with new alarms. This was a most critical period for our hero, and Sir
William and Lady Hamilton, who would certainly have been sacrificed to
the fury of the populace, had a full discovery been then made of the
important parts they were acting. Nothing, however, could deter these
firm friends from continuing to assist the royal family in escaping from
the peril