“I have had so much said about the King of Naples’s orders only to admit three or four of the ships of our fleet into his ports, that I am astonished.  I understood, that private orders, at least, would have been given for our free admission.  If we are to be refused supplies, pray send me, by many vessels, an account; that I may, in good time, take the king’s fleet to Gibraltar.  Our treatment is scandalous for a great nation to put up with, and the king’s flag is insulted at every friendly port we look at.  I am, with the greatest respect, your most obedient servant,

     Horatio Nelson.

     P.S.  I do not complain of the want of attention in individuals,
     for all classes of people are remarkably attentive to us.”

     “His Excellency, the Right Honourable Sir William Hamilton, K.B.”

A secret epistle, at the same time, addressed to Sir William and Lady Hamilton, has these words—­

     “MY DEAR FRIENDS,

“Thanks to your exertions, we have victualled and watered:  and, surely, watering at the Fountain of Arethusa, we must have victory!  We shall sail with the first breeze; and, be assured, I will return either crowned with laurel, or covered with cypress.”

Though no person in the fleet was acquainted with the harbour of Syracuse, such was the skill and exertion of the officers that every ship got safely in:  and, full permission having been secured, by the admirable management and address of Lady Hamilton, not only water, but other articles of the first necessity, were obtained with the greatest expedition.  Indeed, though there was no proper or regular water-place, the classical Fountain of Arethusa, that celebrated daughter of Oceanus, and nymph of the Goddess of Chastity, supplied them copiously with her pure and traditionally propitious libations; and the hero, it has been seen, did not fail to anticipate, with becoming gratulations, his sense of their indisputable efficacy.  Such were the exertions of the officers and men, and such were the facilities, in other respects, which they now enjoyed, that the whole squadron were in a condition to put to sea by the 25th.

In the mean time, Admiral Nelson had addressed a letter to the Earl of St. Vincent, on the 20th instant, stating what he had done since his last, and his future intentions.  “Yesterday,” says he, “I arrived here; where I can learn no more than conjecture, that the French are gone to the eastward.  Every moment, I have to regret the frigates having left me; to which must be attributed my ignorance of the movements of the enemy.  Your lordship deprived yourself of frigates, to make mine, certainly, the first squadron in the world; and I feel that I have zeal and activity to do credit to your appointment:  and yet, to be unsuccessful, hurts me most sensibly.  But, if they are above water, I will find them out; and, if possible, bring them to battle.  You have done