t
entered, Nelson was sent with despatches to Sir William Hamilton, our
envoy at the Court of Naples. Sir William, after his first interview
with him, told Lady Hamilton he was about to introduce a little man to
her, who could not boast of being very handsome; but such a man as, he
believed, would one day astonish the world. "I have never before," he
continued, "entertained an officer at my house; but I am determined
to bring him here. Let him be put in the room prepared for Prince
Augustus." Thus that acquaintance began which ended in the destruction
of Nelson's domestic happiness. It seemed to threaten no such
consequences at its commencement. He spoke of Lady Hamilton, in a letter
to his wife, as a young woman of amiable manners, who did honour to the
station to which she had been raised; and he remarked, that she had been
exceedingly kind to Josiah. The activity with which the envoy exerted
himself in procuring troops from Naples, to assist in garrisoning
Toulon, so delighted him, that he is said to have exclaimed, "Sir
William, you are a man after my own heart!--you do business in my own
way:" and then to have added, "I am now only a captain; but I will, if I
live, be at the top of the tree." Here, also, that acquaintance with
the Neapolitan court commenced, which led to the only blot upon Nelson's
public character. The king, who was sincere at that time in his enmity
to the French, called the English the saviours of Italy, and of his
dominions in particular. He paid the most flattering attentions to
Nelson, made him dine with him, and seated him at his right hand.

Having accomplished this mission, Nelson received orders to join
Commodore Linzee at Tunis. On the way, five sail of the enemy were
discovered off the coast of Sardinia, and he chased them. They proved to
be three forty-four gun frigates, with a corvette of twenty-four and
a brig of twelve. The AGAMEMNON had only 345 men at quarters, having
landed part of her crew at Toulon, and others being absent in prizes.
He came near enough one of the frigates to engage her, but at great
disadvantage, the Frenchman manoeuvring well and sailing greatly better.
A running fight of three hours ensued, during which the other ships,
which were at some distance, made all speed to come up. By this time the
enemy was almost silenced, when a favourable change of wind enabled her
to get out of reach of the AGAMEMNON's guns; and that ship had received
so much damage in the rig