On Monday, the 15th of October, being ready to sail from Naples, at eight o’clock in the morning, the King and Prince Leopold, as well as Sir William and Lady Hamilton, went on board the Vanguard, to breakfast with Lord Nelson.  At ten, the British squadron, consisting of the Vanguard, Minotaur, Audacious, Goliath, and La Mutine brig, weighed anchor; and, at eleven, the royal and illustrious visitors quitted the ship, taking an affectionate leave of their heroic protector and friend—­“The king expressed himself,” says Lord Nelson, in a letter to the Earl of St. Vincent, dated off Marsala, the West End of Sicily, October 22, 1798, “in the most flattering manner towards me.  His majesty had all the respect paid him, by the squadron, which our situation would admit of, and which it was not only our duty, but so much our inclination, to pay him.  The king,” he observes, “having desired my return to Naples in the first week in November, I shall, after having arranged the blockade of Malta, return to Naples, and endeavour to be useful in the movements of their army.  In thus acquiescing in the desire of the King of Naples, I give up my plan; which was, to have gone to Egypt, and attended to the destruction of the French shipping in that quarter:  but, I hope, before Captain Hood quits his station, both the Turks and Russian squadron will be on that coast; when all will be right, I hope:  although I own myself not willing to trust any of our allies to do that which we could do ourselves.  I have reason for thinking, that a strong wish for our squadron’s being on the coast of Naples is, that in case of any mishap, their majesties think their persons much safer under the protection of the British flag, than under any other.”  After observing, that the Culloden would be ready for sea about the time mentioned, and that he had directed Captain Troubridge to wait his arrival, with the transports which he had at first intended to take to Syracuse, he concludes with remarking that he had not a sick man in the squadron.

On the 24th, Lord Nelson arrived off Malta; when he immediately wrote the following letter to Sir William Hamilton.

     “Vanguard,
     off Malta,
     24th Oct. 1798.

     “MY DEAR SIR,

“I am just arrived off this place, where I found Captain Ball and the Marquis De Niza:  from these officers, I do not find such an immediate prospect of getting possession of the town, as the minister at Naples seems to think.  All the country, it is true, is in possession of the islanders; and, I believe, the French have not many luxuries in the town:  but, as yet, their bullocks are not eat up.  The marquis tells me, the islanders want arms, victuals, and mortars and cannon to annoy the town.  When I get the elect of the people on board, I shall desire them to draw up a memorial for the King of Naples, stating their wants and desires, which I shall bring with me.  The marquis sails for Naples to-morrow morning.  Till he is gone, I shall not do any thing about the island; but I will be fully master of that subject, before I leave this place.  God bless you! is the sincere prayer of your affectionate

     Horatio Nelson.”