di Sangro, who was ambassador at the Tuscan court, maintained that the
king of Naples was not at war with France. "What!" said Nelson, "has not
the king received, as a conquest made by him, the republican flag taken
at Gozo? Is not his own flag flying there, and at Malta, not only by his
permission, but by his order? Is not his flag shot at every day by the
French, and their shot returned from batteries which bear that flag? Are
not two frigates and a corvette placed under my orders ready to fight
the French, meet them where they may? Has not the king sent publicly
from Naples guns, mortars, &c., with officers and artillery, against the
French in Malta? If these acts are not tantamount to any written paper,
I give up all knowledge of what is war." This reasoning was of less
avail than argument addressed to the general's fears. Nelson told him
that, if he permitted the many hundred French who were then in the mole
to remain neutral, till they had a fair opportunity of being active,
they had one sure resource, if all other schemes failed, which was to
set one vessel on fire; the mole would be destroyed, probably the town
also, and the port ruined for twenty years. This representation made
Naselli agree to the half measure of laying an embargo on the vessels;
among them were a great number of French privateers, some of which were
of such force as to threaten the greatest mischief to our commerce, and
about seventy sail of vessels belonging to the Ligurian republic, as
Genoa was now called, laden with corn, and ready to sail for Genoa and
France; where their arrival would have expedited the entrance of more
French troops into Italy. "The general," said Nelson, "saw, I believe,
the consequence of permitting these vessels to depart, in the same light
as myself; but there is this difference between us: he prudently,
and certainly safely, waits the orders of his court, taking no
responsibility upon himself; I act from the circumstances of the moment,
as I feel may be most advantageous for the cause which I serve, taking
all responsibility on myself." It was in vain to hope for anything