himself on the seventeenth day after the battle.




CHAPTER VI

1798 - 1800

Nelson returns to Naples--State of that Court and Kingdom--General
Mack--The French approach Naples--Flight of the Royal Family--Successes
of the Allies in Italy--Transactions in the Bay of Naples--Expulsion of
the French from the Neapolitan and Roman States--Nelson is made Duke of
Bronte--He leaves the Mediterranean and returns to England.


NELSON's health had suffered greatly while he was in the AGAMEMNON. "My
complaint," he said, "is as if a girth were buckled taut over my breast,
and my endeavour in the night is to get it loose." After the battle
of Cape St. Vincent he felt a little rest to be so essential to his
recovery, that he declared he would not continue to serve longer than
the ensuing summer, unless it should be absolutely necessary; for in his
own strong language, he had then been four years and nine months without
one moment's repose for body or mind. A few months' intermission of
labour he had obtained--not of rest, for it was purchased with the
loss of a limb; and the greater part of the time had been a season of
constant pain. As soon as his shattered frame had sufficiently recovered
for him to resume his duties, he was called to services of greater
importance than any on which he had hitherto been employed, which
brought with them commensurate fatigue and care.