“Right Honourable Lord Keith.”

Besides the above letter, Lord Nelson this day wrote three other letters to Lord Keith, and one to Earl Spencer; so indefatigable was his lordship in the performance of every branch of his duty.  Yet, at this very moment, he was hazarding the imputation of too little regarding it, by those who have not his ability to discern in what it truly consists, or the magnanimity to hazard the consequences of a nominal and apparent breach, for the sake of securely seizing the spirit and substance of it’s unquestionably intended effect.  A truly great man, must sometimes even venture to expose his character, as well as his person, in perilous situations; though he will seldom be so presumptuous or rash as wantonly to commit either, on trivial occasions.

The fact is, that his lordship had, at this very critical juncture, been ordered, by Lord Keith, to detach a considerable part of his squadron for the reinforcement of his lordship, then at Minorca; with this order, however, having already parted with two ships for Malta, it was not possible to comply, without again putting the safety of Naples to a most imminent hazard.  He ventured, therefore to remonstrate against the measure, in the following apology to Lord Keith; describing his precise situation, of which the commander in chief could not have any possible knowledge at the time of sending such orders.

     “Foudroyant, Naples Bay,
     13th July, 1799.

     “MY LORD,

“I have to acknowledge the receipt of your lordship’s orders of 27th June; and, as soon as the safety of his Sicilian Majesty’s kingdoms is secured, I shall not lose one moment in making the detachment you are pleased to order.  At present, under God’s providence, the safety of his Sicilian Majesty, and his speedy restoration to his kingdoms, depends on this fleet; and the confidence inspired, even by the appearance of our ships before the city, is beyond all belief:  and I have no scruple in declaring my opinion that, should any event draw us from the kingdom, if the French remain in any part of it, disturbances will again arise:  for, all order having been completely overturned, it must take a thorough cleansing, and some little time, to restore tranquillity.  I have the honour to be, with great respect, your lordship’s obedient servant,

     “Nelson.”

     “Right Honourable Lord Keith.”

With these accounts of the operations at Naples, copies of which were transmitted by Lord Nelson, to England, for public information, his lordship wrote the following private letter to Earl Spencer; in which, among other interesting particulars, descriptive of his then state, he alludes to the impropriety of hastily detaching any ships for Minorca.

     “Foudroyant, Naples Bay,
     13th July 1799.

     “MY DEAR LORD,