the life of horatio lord nelson-第32节
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fied them； but it would not have been safe； while they were in this agitated state； to have embarked the effects of the royal family openly。 Lady Hamilton； like a heroine of modern romance； explored with no little danger a subterraneous passage leading from the palace to the sea…side： through this passage the royal treasures； the choicest pieces of painting and sculpture； and other property to the amount of two millions and a half； were conveyed to the shore； and stowed safely on board the English ships。 On the night。 of the 21st； at half…past eight； Nelson landed； brought out the whole royal family； embarked them in three barges； and carried them safely； through a tremendous sea； to the VANGUARD。 Notice was then immediately given to the British merchants； that they would be received on board any ships in the squadron。 Their property had previously been embarked in transports。 Two days were passed in the bay； for the purpose of taking such persons on board as required an asylum； and； on the night of the 23rd； the fleet sailed。 The next day a more violent storm arose than Nelson had ever before encountered。 On the 25th； the youngest of the princes was taken ill； and died in Lady Hamilton's arms。 During this whole trying season； Lady Hamilton waited upon the royal family with the zeal of the most devoted servant； at a time when； except one man； no person belonging to the court assisted them。
On the morning of the 26th the royal family were landed at Palermo。 It was soon seen that their flight had not been premature。 Prince Pignatelli； who had been left as vicar…general and viceroy； with orders to defend the kingdom to the last rock in Calabria； sent plenipotentiaries to the French camp before Capua； and they； for the sake of saving the capital； signed an armistice； by which the greater part of the kingdom was given up to the enemy： a cession that necessarily led to the loss of the whole。 This was on the 10th of January。 The French advanced towards Naples。 Mack； under pretext of taking shelter from the fury of the lazzaroni； fled to the French General Championet； who sent him under an escort to Milan； but as France hoped for further services from this wretched traitor； it was thought prudent to treat him apparently as a prisoner of war。 The Neapolitan army disappeared in a few days： of the men； some； following their officers； deserted to the enemy； the greater part took the opportunity of disbanding themselves。 The lazzaroni proved true to their country； they attacked the enemy's advanced posts； drove them in； and were not dispirited by the murderous defeat which they suffered from the main body。 Flying into the city； they continued to defend it； even after the French had planted their artillery in the principal streets。 Had there been a man of genius to have directed their enthusiasm； or had there been any correspondent feelings in the higher ranks； Naples might have set a glorious example to Europe； and have proved the grave of every Frenchman who entered it。 But the vices of the government had extinguished all other patriotism than that of the rabble； who had no other than that sort of loyalty which was like the fidelity of a dog to its master。 This fidelity the French and their adherents counteracted by another kind of devotion： the priests affirmed that St。 Januarius had declared in favour of the revolution。 The miracle of his blood was performed with the usual success； and more than usual effect； on the very evening when； after two days of desperate fighting； the French obtained possession of Naples。 A French guard of honour was stationed at his church。 Championet gave； 〃Respect for St。 Januarius！〃 as the word for the army； and the next day TE DEUM was sung by the archbishop in the cathedral； and the inhabitants were invited to attend the ceremony； and join in thanksgiving for the glorious entry of the French； who； it was said； being under the peculiar protection of Providence； had regenerated the Neapolitans； and were come to establish and consolidate their happiness。
It seems to have been Nelson's opinion that the Austrian cabinet regarded the conquest of Naples with complacency； and that its measures were directed so as designedly not to prevent the French from overrunning it。 That cabinet was assuredly capable of any folly； and of any baseness； and it is not improbable that at this time； calculating upon the success of the new coalition； it indulged a dream of adding extensively to its former Italian possessions； and； therefore； left the few remaining powers of Italy to be overthrown； as a means which would facilitate its own ambitious views。 The King of Sardinia； finding it impossible longer to endure the exactions of France and the insults of the French commissary； went to Leghorn； embarked on board a Danish frigate； and sailed； under British protection； to Sardiniathat part of his dominions which the maritime supremacy of England rendered a secure asylum。 On his arrival he published a protest against the conduct of France； declaring； upon the faith and word of a king； that he had never infringed； even in the slightest degree； the treaties which he had made with the French republic。 Tuscany was soon occupied by French troopsa fate which bolder policy might； perhaps； have failed to avert； but which its weak and timid neutrality rendered inevitable。 Nelson began to fear even for Sicily。 〃Oh； my dear sir；〃 said he； writing to Commodore Duckworth； 〃one thousand English troops would save Messina； and I fear General Stuart cannot give me men to save this most important island！〃 But his representations were not lost upon Sir Charles Stuart。 This officer hastened immediately from Minorca with 1000 men； assisted in the measures of defence which were taken； and did not return before he had satisfied himself that； if the Neapolitans were excluded from the management of affairs； and the spirit of the peasantry properly directed； Sicily was safe。 Before his coming； Nelson had offered the king； if no resources should arrive； to defend Messina with the ship's company of an English man…of…war。
Russia had now entered into the war。 Corfu； surrendered to a Russian and Turkish fleet； acting now； for the first time； in strange confederacy yet against a power which was certainly the common and worst enemy of both。 Troubridge having given up the blockade of Alexandria to Sir Sidney Smith； joined Nelson； bringing with him a considerable addition of strength； and in himself what Nelson valued more； a man； upon whose sagacity； indefatigable zeal； and inexhaustible resources； he could place full reliance。 Troubridge was intrusted to commence the operations against the French in the bay of Naples。 Meantime Cardinal Ruffo； a man of questionable character； but of a temper fitted for such times； having landed in Calabria； raised what he called a Christian army； composed of the best and the vilest materialsloyal peasants； enthusiastic priests and friars； galley slaves； the emptying of the jails； and banditti。 The islands in the bay of Naples were joyfully delivered up by the inhabitants； who were in a state of famine already； from the effect of this baleful revolution。 Troubridge distributed among them all his flour； and Nelson pressed the Sicilian court incessantly for supplies； telling them that L10；000 given away in provisions would； at this time； purchase a kingdom。 Money； he was told； they had not to give； and the wisdom and integrity which might have supplied its wants were not to be found。 〃There is nothing；〃 said he； 〃which I propose； that is not； so far as orders go； implicitly complied with； but the execution is dreadful； and almost makes me mad。 My desire to serve their majesties faithfully； as is my duty； has been such that I am almost blind and worn out； and cannot in my present state hold out much longer。〃
Before any government can be overthrown by the consent of the people； the government must be intolerably oppressive； or the people thoroughly corrupted。 Bad as the misrule at Naples had been； its consequences had been felt far less there than in Sicily； and the peasantry had that attachment to the soil which gives birth to so many of the noblest as well as of the happiest feelings。 In all the islands the people were perfectly frantic with joy when they saw the Neapolitan colours hoisted。 At Procida； Troubridge could not procure even a rag of the tri…coloured flag to lay at the king's feet： it was rent into ten thousand pieces by the inhabitants； and entirely destroyed。 〃The horrid treatment of the French；〃 he said； 〃had made them mad。〃 It exasperated the ferocity of a character which neither the laws nor the religion under which they lived tended to mitigate。 Their hatred was especially directed against the Neapolitan revolutionists； and the fishermen； in concert among themselves； chose each his own victim； whom he would stiletto when the day of vengeance should arrive。 The head of one was sent off one morning to Troubridge； with his basket of grapes for breakfast； and a note from the Italian who had； what he called； the glory of presenting it； saying； he had killed the man as he was running away； and begging his excellency to accept the head； and consider it as a proof of the writer's attachment to the crown。 With the first successe
