On the passage from Palermo, Nelson had received information that the royalists,—­with whom were co-operating some detachments of Russians and Turks, as well as the British naval forces, under Captain Foote, of the “Seahorse,”—­had concluded an armistice with the French and their Neapolitan allies, who were in possession of the castles.  The terms of the armistice, thus rumored, were that the castles, if not relieved within twenty-one days, should then be surrendered; the garrisons to march out with the honors of war, and to be transported to Toulon in vessels to be furnished by the King of Naples.  This report was erroneous in important particulars, especially as to the period of twenty-one days.  What really had happened was, that a capitulation had been concluded, which provided that the Neapolitan insurgents should evacuate the two castles held by them—­Uovo and Nuovo—­as soon as the transports were ready to take them to Toulon, but not before.  The French, in the castle of St. Elmo, were not included in the arrangement, their only part being that it required the ratification of their commander before becoming operative.  This ratification was given, and, when Nelson’s squadron came in sight,[82] the treaty had received the signature of all the parties interested; the flags of truce indicating a cessation of hostilities until the terms of the capitulation were carried into effect.

Nelson had been given full power by the King of the Two Sicilies to act as his representative.  He was also, as commander of the fleet, the representative of the King of Great Britain among the allied forces, which were acting in support of the royalist cause.  The double function introduces great confusion into the subsequent transactions, especially as there are on record no formal credentials investing him with the authority he claimed to have from the King of Naples.  The omission probably arose from the extreme shortness of his stay in Palermo on the 21st—­only two hours and a half elapsing, by the “Foudroyant’s” log, between the entering of the ship and her sailing again; a time sufficient for an interview and a clear understanding, but scarcely for drawing up a regular commission.  The fact rests upon his own statement, adequately supported, however, by inferences reasonably to be drawn from expressions in letters to him, both from the King and from Acton, the Prime Minister.  That his power went so far as to authorize him to remove Cardinal Ruffo, up to that time the King’s representative, would alone confirm the assertion of a man habitually truthful.  Sir William Hamilton also, writing to Greville, and alluding to his official despatch by the same mail, says, “We had full powers.”  It may be accepted that Nelson himself was entirely satisfied that he was authorized at the time to act for the King, when emergency required; and it is certain that letters were speedily sent, empowering him to appoint a new government, as well as to arrest Ruffo and to send him to Palermo in a British ship.