Peard in the Success.
During the siege of St. Elmo, many of the Neapolitans came out, every
day, in boats, to the British squadron; and the leaders of different
parties, with various views, but all affecting the strictest zeal and
most loyal attachment to their sovereign, paid congratulatory visits to
Lord Nelson and Sir William and Lady Hamilton: it was not, perhaps,
always possible to discover the insincere; but this illustrious
triumvirate, as they merit to be denominated, by their extreme
circumspection and address, made all of them conduce, whatever might
have been their original design, to the promotion of the royal cause.
Her ladyship, on these occasions, was eminently successful in
conciliating those who had entertained unjust prejudices against the
queen; and, by the well timed distribution of necklaces, ear-rings, and
other trinkets, among the most active of the female partisans, said to
be the gracious gifts of her majesty, who had not any present means of
more profusely showering her bounty on her beloved people, in which
assertion there was but little departure from truth, such an astonishing
progress was made in the attachments of them and their numerous
admirers, as would appear scarcely credible to those who are
unacquainted with the wonderful influence of the Neapolitan women.
On the 10th of July, his Sicilian Majesty, with his principal ministers,
arrived in the Bay of Naples; and went on board the Foudroyant, when his
royal standard was instantly hoisted. At the first notice of this event,
the Neapolitan royalists came out in prodigious numbers; and, rowing
round the ship, called, in the most affectionate manner, for a sight of
their beloved sovereign, under the denomination of their dear father.
"The effusions of loyalty," says Lord Nelson, in writing to Lord Keith
of this event, "from the lower order of the people to their _father_,
for by no other name do they address the king, is truly moving!" It was,
indeed, very affecting to hear them; and their transports of joy, on
beholding him, are not to be described. Every day, which their king
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