to join this new coalition with a numerical force of 80,000 men.
Nelson told the king, in plain terms, that he had his choice, either to
advance, trusting to God for his blessing on a just cause, and prepared
to die sword in hand, or to remain quiet, and be kicked out of his
kingdom; one of these things must happen. The king made answer he would
go on, and trust in God and Nelson; and Nelson, who would else have
returned to Egypt, for the purpose of destroying the French shipping in
Alexandria, gave up his intention at the desire of the Neapolitan court,
and resolved to remain on that station, in the hope that he might be
useful to the movements of the army. He suspected also, with reason,
that the continuance of his fleet was so earnestly requested, because
the royal family thought their persons would be safer, in case of any
mishap, under the British flag, than under their own.

His first object was the recovery of Malta--an island which the King of
Naples pretended to claim. The Maltese, whom the villanous knights of
their order had betrayed to France, had taken up arms against their
rapacious invaders, with a spirit and unanimity worthy of the highest
praise. They blockaded the French garrison by land, and a small
squadron, under Captain Ball, began to blockade them by sea, on the
12th of October. Twelve days afterwards Nelson arrived. "It is as
I suspected," he says: "the ministers at Naples know nothing of the
situation of the island. Not a house or bastion of the town is in
possession of the islanders: and the Marquis de Niza tells us they
want arms, victuals, and support. He does not know that any Neapolitan
officers are on the island; perhaps, although I have their names, none
are arrived; and it is very certain, by the marquis's account, that no
supplies have been sent by the governors of Syracuse and Messina." The
little island of Gozo, dependent upon Malta, which had also been seized
and garrisoned by the French, capitulated soon after his arrival, and