to be hired for the accommodation of the French emigrants, and provisions were supplied from our victuallers.  In short, every thing had been done for the comfort of all persons embarked.  I did not forget, in these important moments, that it was my duty not to leave the chance of any ships of war falling into the hands of the French; therefore, every preparation was made for burning them, before I sailed.  But the reasons given me by their Sicilian majesties, induced me not to burn them till the last moment.  I, therefore, directed the Marquis De Niza to remove all the Neapolitan ships outside the squadron under his command; and, if it were possible, to equip some of them with jury-masts, and send them to Messina:  and, whenever the French advanced near Naples, or the people revolted against their legitimate government, then immediately to destroy the ships of war, and to join me at Palermo; leaving one or two ships to cruise between Capri and Ischia, in order to prevent the entrance of any English ships into the Bay of Naples.  On the 23d, at seven in the evening, the Vanguard, Samnite, and Archimedes, with about twenty sail of vessels, left the Bay of Naples, The next day, it blew much harder than I ever experienced since I have been at sea.  Your lordship will believe, that my anxiety was not lessened by the great charge that was with me; but, not a word of uneasiness escaped the lips of any of the royal family.  On the 25th, at nine in the morning, Prince Albeit, their majesty’s youngest child, having eat a hearty breakfast, was taken ill; and, at seven in the evening, died in the arms of Lady Hamilton!  And here it is my duty to tell your lordship, the obligations which the whole royal family, as well as myself, are under, on this trying occasion, to her ladyship.  They necessarily came on board without a bed, nor could the smallest preparation be made for their reception.  Lady Hamilton provided her own beds, linen, &c. and became their slave; for, except one man, no person belonging to royalty assisted the royal family.  Nor did her ladyship enter a bed the whole time they were on board.  Good Sir William, also, made every sacrifice for the comfort of the august family embarked with him.  I must not omit to state, the kindness of Captain Hardy, and every officer in the Vanguard; all of whom readily gave their beds for the convenience of the numerous persons attending the royal family.  At three in the afternoon, being in sight of Palermo, his Sicilian majesty’s royal standard was hoisted at the main top-gallant mast-head of the Vanguard:  which was kept flying there, till his majesty got into the Vanguard’s barge; when it was struck in the ship, and hoisted in the barge, and every proper honour paid to it from the ship.  As soon as his majesty set his foot on shore, it was struck from the barge.  The Vanguard anchored at two in the morning of the 26th.  At five, I attended her majesty, and all the princesses, on shore:  her majesty being so much affected, by the death of Prince Albert,