“Your several letters of November 30, came to me this moment.  Believe me, no person can set a higher value on your friendship than I do; for, I know, from experience, that you have nothing more at heart, than the honour of our king and country.  I rejoice to hear, that the cargoes of corn in the Mole of Leghorn will be landed; and the privateers disarmed, and the scoundrels belonging to them sent away.  The enemy will be distressed; and, thank God, I shall get no money.  The world, I know, think that money is our God; and, now, they will be undeceived, as far as relates to us.  “Down, down with the French!” is my constant prayer.  I hope, that the emperor is marched to support this country:  for, unused to war, it’s officers seem alarmed at a drawn sword; or a gun, if loaded with shot.  Many of them, peaceable heroes, are said to have run away when brought near the enemy.  The King and General Acton being at Rome, I know not what orders will be sent to General Naselli; but, you may depend, I will do nothing which can do away your just demand of retribution to our merchants robbed by the French at Leghorn.  I arrived here on the 5th of December, and found my presence very comfortable for the poor queen.  Ever believe me, my dear Sir, your most faithful and obliged

     “Nelson.”

Our indefatigable hero wrote, also, on this day, two letters to his Excellency, the Right Honourable Sir Moreton Eden, K.B.  Minister Plenipotentiary at Vienna.  In the first of these, he says, with his usual excellence of heart, “I have to thank you, for your kindness to Captain Berry.  Poor fellow, he has suffered greatly, both in body and mind; but, I hope, his reception in England will perfectly restore him.”  The other letter fully demonstrates that his head was no less excellent than his heart.  It would have been well for the repose of Europe, and particularly for the welfare of the Emperor of Germany, and his hereditary dominions, as well as of his royal relatives at Naples, had our hero’s advice, even at this late period, been sufficiently regarded.  We give, with peculiar pleasure, the whole of this almost prophetic document.

     Naples, Dec. 10, 1798.

     “MY DEAR SIR,

“I received, with thanks, your favour of November the 15th:  and perfectly agree with you, that a delayed war, on the part of the emperor, will be destructive to this monarchy; and, of course, to the newly-acquired dominions of the emperor in Italy.  Had the war commenced in September or October, all Italy would at this moment have been liberated.  This month is worse than the last; the next will render the contest doubtful; and, in six months, when the Neapolitan republic will be organized, armed, and with it’s numerous resources called forth, I will suffer to have my head cut off, if the emperor is not only defeated in Italy, but that he totters on his throne at Vienna.  Pray, assure the empress, from me, that, notwithstanding the councils which