these miscreants. I trust, your lordship will not think me wrong, in the
painful determination I conceived myself forced to make; for agonized,
indeed, was the mind of your lordship's faithful and affectionate
servant."
The fact seems to be, that Lord Nelson had not the smallest
apprehensions of any serious designs on Minorca; and greatly feared
that, if he should entirely quit the protection of Sicily and Naples,
they would both soon be irrecoverably lost. It was, therefore, with
extreme reluctance, that he proceeded on the present business; and
having, next day, the 17th, been joined off Malta by the Alexander and
Goliath, his force was now fifteen sail of two-decked English ships, and
three Portuguese, with a fireship and cutter.
On the 20th, the Swallow Portuguese corvette brought dispatches of the
17th, from the Earl of St. Vincent; acquainting Lord Nelson of the near
approach of the squadron under Sir Alan Gardiner, and that Lord Keith
was going in search of the French fleet. Having now, therefore, no hope
of any sufficient reinforcement to enable him to do the same, his
lordship determined once more to offer himself for the service of
Naples, which he seems to have imagined the French intended to visit;
and, indeed, information to that effect had repeatedly arrived, by
different ships, as well British as foreign. Accordingly, having parted
for Palermo, he arrived off that port on the 21st; but, the ship being
becalmed, he was under the necessity of proceeding some leagues in his
barge. Having reached Palermo early in the morning of this day, he
waited on Sir William Hamilton; and requested that, the instant they had
breakfasted, the carriage might be ready to take himself, with Sir
William and Lady Hamilton, to the king and queen. Nothing could possibly
have been more opportune than this unpremeditated visit; for his
lordship now learned, that General Acton had actually written to him, by
the desire of their majesties, though he had not yet received the letter
most earnestly intreating his return, for the purpose of going into the
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