king remained on board, did these loyal people continue to flock out; crying—­“Father! father! let us only see your face, and we will be satisfied.”  It was truly pathetic to hear the generous creatures; and to behold the amiable condescension of their worthy sovereign, who never refused to indulge them with a sight of his person.  From half past twelve, however, the constant time of dining, till four in the afternoon, when the king usually slept, the most profound silence was preserved by the many anxious and impatient people with whom the surrounding boats were crouded.  If the smallest noise occurred, silence was immediately insisted on—­“Do you not know,” they would softly, but fiercely, say, “that our father is asleep?  Would you dare to disturb him?” Then, as the time of his awaking drew near, they generally asked for their good mistress, the name by which they addressed Lady Hamilton; requesting that she would kindly let them know when their father was ready to see them.  This, her ladyship never failed to do; and they immediately resumed the eager and affecting cry of—­“Father! father!” &c. when the king instantly presented himself to their view, and often spoke to them with the most consoling affability.  The effect of Lady Hamilton’s continual presents and kind remembrances from her majesty, soon occasioned them to make similar enquiries after their good mother, the queen; and their dear children, the royal offspring—­“When shall we again behold our good mother?  When shall we once more see our dear children?” In such simple expressions of affectionate regard, did all the humble classes of Neapolitans pour forth their effusions of loyal attachment to their beloved sovereign; while the generality of those who possessed titles of honour, seemed wholly destitute of it’s principles.  “The conduct of the nobles,” Lord Nelson remarked, in the letter above noticed, “has been infamous; and it delights me, to see that his majesty marks the difference in the most proper manner.  It has been, and is, my study, to treat his majesty with all the respect due to so great a personage; and I have the pleasure to believe, that my humble endeavours have met with the royal approbation.”

The painful anxiety of the king, as he viewed the hostile flag on the distant Castle of St. Elmo, feeling both for the besiegers and the besieged, was excessive; but, when on the third day after his arrival, it was visibly lowered, as he stood on the deck, with Lord Nelson and Sir William and Lady Hamilton, he threw his arms round them in an extacy of gratitude, and hailed those generous friends by the appellation of his preservers and restorers.

In fact, the castle surrendered, on the 12th, by capitulation, after a close siege of eight days, with open batteries; in which, the bravery of Captain Troubridge, and the other British officers serving under him, with a most heterogeneous army of British marines, and Russian, Portuguese, Albanese, Calabrese, and Swiss troops, was eminently conspicuous.  The particulars of this siege, as well as it’s success, will appear in the following letter sent by Captain Troubridge to Lord Nelson.