In writing, on the 12th of April, to the Earl of St. Vincent, respecting these events, his lordship says—­“Captain Troubridge is in complete possession of Procida, Ischia, and Capri; the inhabitants of which islands have joyfully hoisted his Sicilian Majesty’s colours, cut down the Tree of Liberty, and delivered up all the municipality and the detested Jacobins; all of whom are confined on board ship, and in the chateau of Ischia.  The French in Naples are not more than two thousand, the civic guards about twenty thousand; but, as these last will not remain fighting for the French if there is any risk, I am warranted in saying that ten thousand troops would place the king again on his throne.”  The health of his lordship appears to have been, at this period, very indifferent.  Indeed, the air of Sicily seems by no means to have ever agreed with him.  He says, in this letter, speaking of Sir William and Lady Hamilton—­“We, of this house, are all anxious to get home; yet, in the present moment, cannot move.  Indeed, we have been the main-spring, joined with you, that have kept, and are keeping, this so much out of repair machine from breaking to pieces.”  The difficulties, indeed, of supporting a government every way so feeble in what constitutes the true strength of a state, perplexed our hero in no small degree.  He saw, every where, that inactivity and indecision which so little accorded with his own prompt and active mind; and he languished for the busy scenes of action, from which he was detained by the alarms of their Sicilian Majesties, and the constant claims on the wisdom of his councils, which they could not always find the means, or even the firmness, completely to carry into execution.

Captain Ball had transmitted a painful picture of the wretched state of the inhabitants of Malta, but their Sicilian Majesties were incapable of affording them relief; Captain Troubridge had been obliged to part with all his flour, to preserve the recovered islands from starving.  “I have,” says his lordship, in another letter to the Earl of St. Vincent, dated the 17th of April, “eternally been pressing for supplies; and represented that a hundred thousand pounds, given away in provisions, just now, might purchase a kingdom.  In short, my dear lord, my desire to serve, as is my duty, faithfully their Sicilian Majesties, has been such, that I am almost blind, and worn out; and cannot, in my present state, hold out much longer.  I would, indeed, lay down my life for such good and gracious monarchs; but I am useless, when I am unable to do what, God knows, my heart leads me to.”