“We, the commanders of the troops of the King of the Two Sicilies, and of the squadron of his Britannic Majesty, now before Leghorn, demand of the Governor of Leghorn the free and instant admission of his Sicilian Majesty’s troops into the town and fortress of Leghorn, and every thing thereunto depending.  If you refuse, we have power to enforce our just demand; which will, undoubtedly, instantly be done.

     “Naselli, General.

     “Nelson, Rear-Admiral.”

Captain Troubridge, accompanied by the two ministers, went on shore with this summons:  and he returned, at eight in the evening, with a capitulation signed; in consequence of which the troops were immediately landed, and possession taken of the town and fortress of Leghorn.

On the following day, the Portuguese squadron also arrived, and landed the remainder of the troops.  In the mean time, the Neapolitan general refused to seize the French vessels at Leghorn, under pretence that the King of Naples was not at war with France; and the Neapolitan minister, the Duke Di Sangro, was likewise weak enough to maintain the same opinion.  The vexation which these impolitic scrupulosities occasioned in the superior mind of our decided hero, is difficult to be described.  He saw the destructive tendency of such mental imbecility, and trembled for the fate of a country which was condemned to be thus served.  His lordship’s feelings will be best conceived, by his own account of what passed in his anxious bosom on the occasion, thus addressed to Mr. Windham.

     Vanguard, 30th Nov. 1798.

     “MY DEAR SIR,

“I have been thinking, all night, of the General Naselli and the Duke Di Sangro’s saying that the King of Naples had not declared war against the French.  Now, I assert, that he has; and, in a much stronger manner than the ablest minister in Europe could write a declaration of war.  Has not the king received, as a conquest made by him, the republican flag taken at Goza?  Is not the king’s flag flying there, and at Malta; not only by the king’s absolute permission, but by his orders?  Is not his flag shot at, every day, by the French; and returned, from batteries bearing the king’s flag?  Are not two frigates, and a corvette, placed under my orders? and they would fight the French, meet them where they may.  Has not the king sent publicly, from Naples, guns, mortars, &c. with officers and artillery, to fight against the French in Malta?  If these acts are not tantamount to any written paper, I give up all knowledge of what is war.  So far, then, I assert, that the general is authorized to seize all French and Ligurian vessels.  But that is a small matter, to what will happen if he permits the many hundreds of French which are now in the mole to be neutral, till they have a fair opportunity of being active.  Even the interest of the Grand Duke calls loudly, that the Neapolitan general should act with vigour;