felt jealous of their own command, had minds superior to the retention
of any continued animosity; and, when they fully understood each other,
became very sincere friends. They were all equally anxious for the good
of the country; for the honour of the profession; and, for their own
individual reputation. Their differences consisted more in the manner
than in the form and substance of the thing; and, perhaps, on the whole,
Lord Nelson's excess of feeling may be regarded as having, for a time,
punished both himself and Sir Sidney with far more severity than the
necessity of the case, when coolly considered, could by any means render
requisite.
One of the first public measures taken by his Sicilian majesty, after
arriving at Palermo, was that of sending away, from the whole island of
Sicily, every Frenchman it contained, of whatever description. A
resolution which, if it did not originate with our hero, was too
consonant with his lordship's known inveterate Antigallicanism, not to
have received his hearty approbation.
The following notice, dated on board the Vanguard, 6th January 1799,
was accordingly issued by Lord Nelson.
"His Sicilian Majesty having directed, that all French, of whatever
description, should leave the Island of Sicily--A ship of six
hundred tons, an English transport, will be ready, by to-morrow
morning, to receive French emigrants; say, two hundred. She will
have put on board her biscuit, salt provisions, peas, oatmeal, and
the common wine of the country. As this will be an additional
gratuity, on the part of the King of Great Britain, the _emigrees_
will, if they chuse it, lay in such stock of fresh provisions, and
other comforts, as they please.
"All those pensioned by Great Britain, will be received by a note
from the British agent; and all those pensioned by his Sicilian
Majesty, by a note from the Neapolitan agent.
"A Neapolitan corvette to be attached to this ship, to convey her
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