lastly, as the consequence of defeated expectations, a desponding
willingness to relinquish even life, from an experienced conviction that
it affords no permanent or perfect felicity.
On the 3d, his lordship received, through the Earl of St Vincent, the
thanks of the House of Peers of Ireland, to himself, and the captains,
officers, seamen, and marines, of the detached squadron under his
command at the battle off the Nile, and immediately returned a
respectful answer by the same channel. He also wrote the following true
sailor's letter to the earl, respecting Malta.
"Palermo, Feb. 3, 1799.
"MY DEAR LORD,
"The Incendiary is just come from
Ball, off Malta; and has brought me information,
that the attempt to storm the city of Valette had
failed, from--(I am afraid, I must call it)--cowardice.
They were over the first ditch, and retired,
_damn them_! But, I trust, the zeal, judgment, and
bravery, of my friend Ball, and his gallant party,
will overcome all difficulty. The cutter just going
off prevents my being more particular. Ever your
most faithful,
"Nelson."
"Naples is declared a republic, and the French
flag flying. We are low in spirits, but all in
this house love you."
His lordship should have considered, before he pronounced the above
naval anathema against the Maltese, for pusillanimity, the wretched
starving state of the poor fellows carcases; of this he could not be
ignorant, since he had, this very day, written to Sir John Acton in
their behalf. "If," says he, "six thousand salms of corn are not sent
directly to Malta, the inhabitants are in that state of want, that the
worst consequences for the interest of his Sicilian Majesty may be
apprehended. All these poor people want is, that the king should give
them six months credit; when they could make their payments, in money or
cotton. The case is important, and demands instant compliance.
"The inhabitants have not seven days bread." He wrote, the day
following, to his friend Captain Ball, and inclosed him a satisfactory
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