Details
NELSON, Horatio (Admiral, 1758-1805). Autograph letter signed ('Nelson') to Lieut. General Sir Charles Stuart, Palermo, 7 January 1799, expressing his shock at the capitulation of the Neapolitan army to the French, 'Although I could not think the Neapolitans to be a nation of Warriors yet it was not possible to believe that a Kingdom with 30,000 Troops and good looking young men could have been overthrown by 19,000 men without anything which could be called a Battle', referring with unusual sympathy to General Mack, giving further news reported to him by the Queen, criticising the Austrian Emperor whose conduct 'is to me extraordinary', and declaring of the Austrian army that he has 'found unhappily all their Generals Traders by making the most of their Command by oppressing the poor soldiers', commenting on Stuart's situation at Minorca, and showing eagerness to return to active service, 3 pages, 4to (traces of tape on 2nd leaf).
'The Nobles of Naples I speak as the Queen tells me are endeavouring to negotiate a truce or peace with the French and that they have offered to exclude the Present King from the throne and to form a Republic under French Protection'. The Vanguard on which Nelson escorted the fleeing Royal Family with Sir William and Lady Hamilton, had arrived at Palermo on Christmas Day. The news that followed them was unrelievedly bad, and by the end of January, the so-called Parthenopaean Republic (dubbed by Nelson the 'Vesuvian') was established at Naples. Nelson, conscious of matters to be concluded in Egypt and Malta, was detained at Palermo by the entreaties of the King and Queen, but pledges himself to fly to Stuart's assistance as soon as he is needed, 'I have nominally a great force but anybody is heartily welcome to the Neapolitan and Portuguese ships ... their Sicilian Majesties desire me not to leave them'.
'The Nobles of Naples I speak as the Queen tells me are endeavouring to negotiate a truce or peace with the French and that they have offered to exclude the Present King from the throne and to form a Republic under French Protection'. The Vanguard on which Nelson escorted the fleeing Royal Family with Sir William and Lady Hamilton, had arrived at Palermo on Christmas Day. The news that followed them was unrelievedly bad, and by the end of January, the so-called Parthenopaean Republic (dubbed by Nelson the 'Vesuvian') was established at Naples. Nelson, conscious of matters to be concluded in Egypt and Malta, was detained at Palermo by the entreaties of the King and Queen, but pledges himself to fly to Stuart's assistance as soon as he is needed, 'I have nominally a great force but anybody is heartily welcome to the Neapolitan and Portuguese ships ... their Sicilian Majesties desire me not to leave them'.