he turns to Ball, with words of encouragement for his islanders.  “We shall soon hear to a certainty of at least 5,000 Russian troops for the service of Malta.  Within a month I hope to see 10,000 men in arms against La Valetta.  I have sent for Troubridge and Martin, that I may get a force to relieve Niza.  I trust he will not go till I can get not only a proper force to relieve his ships, but those of his people who are on shore.”  “The great order of all,” he writes Erskine three weeks later, “is to destroy the power of the French.  Two regiments for two months would probably, with the assistance of the Russians, give us Malta, liberate us from an enemy close to our doors, gratify the Emperor of Russia, protect our Levant trade, relieve a large squadron of ships from this service, and enable me the better to afford naval protection to the island of Minorca, and assist our allies on the northern coast of Italy, and to annoy the enemy on the coast of France.”

Nelson’s entreaties and efforts met with success, sufficient at least to stay the ebbing tide.  General Fox arrived in Minorca, gave permission for the garrison of Messina to go to Malta, and on the 25th of November Troubridge, bringing this news, arrived off Palermo.  Nelson’s haste did not permit the “Culloden” to anchor.  Shifting his flag to a transport, he sent out the “Foudroyant” to meet her, with orders for both to go to Messina, embark the garrison, and get off Malta as soon as possible.  The “Northumberland,” seventy-four, was also to join off Malta, forming a division to replace the Portuguese squadron.  The latter quitted the blockade in December, Nelson notifying Niza on the 18th of the month that he no longer considered him under his command.  The Messina troops landed at Malta on the 10th.  The British then had fifteen hundred men on the island, supported by two thousand Maltese, well disciplined and armed, besides a number of native irregulars upon whom only partial dependence could be placed.  The Russians never came to take part.  They got as far as Messina, but there received orders to go to Corfu, both ships and men.  This was in pursuance of a change of policy in the Czar, who, being enraged at the conduct of his allies, particularly of the Austrians, in the late campaign, intended withdrawing from the Coalition, and was concentrating troops at Corfu.  This revived Nelson’s fears for Malta.  “I trust Graham will not think of giving the island to the French by withdrawing, till he receives orders from General Fox.”  The troops remained, but in numbers too small to admit active operations.  The result was left perforce to the slow pressure of blockade; and final success, insured mainly by Nelson’s untiring efforts, was not attained until after he had left the Mediterranean.