actually occurred. A peremptory order arrived, on the 19th, from Lord
Keith, directing him to detach, immediately, from the Island of Sicily,
the whole of his squadron--or such part, at least, as might not be
necessary in that island--for the protection of Minorca. Lord Nelson,
however, well knowing, that Lord Keith, at the time of sending this
order, could not be informed of the change of affairs in the kingdom of
Naples, where all the marines, and a considerable body of seamen, were
now landed, in order to drive the French scoundrels out of the
kingdom--which was likely, he said, with God's blessing, to be very soon
effected, when a part of the squadron should be instantly sent--he
thought it right, till the French were all driven from Capua, not to
obey his lordship's order for sending down any part of the squadron
under his command. After stating these reasons, as his apology for thus
acting, his lordship thus concludes--"I am perfectly aware of the
consequences of disobeying the orders of the commander in chief; but, as
I believe the safety of the kingdom of Naples depends, at the present
moment, on my detaining the squadron, I have no scruple in deciding,
that it is better to save the kingdom of Naples, and risk Minorca, than
to risk the kingdom of Naples, and save Minorca. Your lordship will, I
hope, approve of my decision."
Though Lord Nelson's heroic bosom could by no means fail to be violently
agitated on this very alarming occasion, his resolution was not to be
shaken by any consideration of personal suffering: had the refusal been
attended with the certain loss of life, he would not have consented to
part with a single ship; such was the inflexible firmness of this
invincible man, when his determination was once fixed. He did not,
however, set danger at defiance; though he so little regarded it's
weight, when placed in the scale which opposed his own conscious sense
of duty. Desirous to be duly understood, and to obtain the indemnity of
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