took his passage in the Thalia, to supercede Captain Nisbet in La Bonne
Citoyenne. Captain Dunn went to supercede Captain Barker in the
Incendiary; on his appointment to the Barfleur; and he was required to
join Lord Nelson by the very first opportunity, being wanted to go down
the Mediterranean.
This day, too, his lordship wrote congratulatory letters to the Russian
and Turkish admirals, on the surrender of Corfu; and invited them,
respectively, to co-operate with him in placing the good King and Queen
of Naples again on their throne in the capital of that kingdom. To
Speridion Foresti, Esq. the consul at Corfu, Lord Nelson wrote, also,
the following very flattering encomiums, in a letter which contains some
additional reasons for his lordship's complaint with regard to Sir
Sidney Smith.
"Palermo, 26th March 1799.
"SIR,
"I feel myself very much obliged by your interesting and important
letters, which I have sent to the Earl of St. Vincent. Give me
leave to say that, throughout my command in the Levant seas, you
have done yourself the highest honour; and rendered, as far as was
possible, the greatest services to your country. This public
testimony, from a stranger to every thing except your good conduct,
will, I trust, be not unacceptable. I observe what you tell me of
Lord Grenville's orders to obey Sir William Sidney Smith. You
will, of course, follow Lord Grenville's orders, as Sir William
Sidney Smith is considered as a minister at Constantinople. I,
also, know him in that capacity, jointly with his worthy brother;
but, Captain of the Tigre, and in all matters relative to naval
operations, he is under my orders: and this I would have you
perfectly understand; and explain, when it may be necessary. For an
idea seems gone abroad, very injurious to my credit in the world;
that, although I was entrusted with the command of the detached
squadron, even into the Black Sea, should the French have got
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