Captain Louis, who had been sent to the French governor of the fortress of Gaieta, with the terms of capitulation entered into between Lord Nelson and the commandant of Capua for the surrender of Gaieta, was to have immediate possession of the gates; and, within twenty-four hours, to embark the garrison.  Some objections, however, being raised by the governor, which he expressed in writing, Captain Louis was induced to send them to his lordship; who instantly returned, for answer, that he was hurt, and surprised, the capitulation had not been complied with.  “It shall be,” said his lordship, “and the commander has agreed to it.  I have not read your paper inclosed.  You will execute my orders, or attack it.  The Fellow ought to be kicked, for his impudence.”

This French governor, it seems, with true Gallic insolence, had the audacity to require, among other unreasonable conditions, that they should embark horses for France, as well as carry away all the pillaged property; but Lord Nelson was not thus to be trifled with.  “The greatest care,” said his lordship, in a letter of the 3d of August, to Captain Darby, “is to be taken that no property, which they did not bring with them into the country can be theirs, or is suffered to be carried away.  We are to send them to France:  and will, properly; but, not as they dictate.  As to horses, it is nonsense; as well might they say—­We will carry a house!  If the fellow is a scoundrel, he must be threshed.”

A letter of this date, however, from Captain Louis, informed his lordship that the matter was settled; in answer to which, he thus expresses himslef—­“i was sorry that you had entered into any altercation with the scoundrel.  The capitulation once signed, there could be no room for dispute.  There is no way of dealing with a Frenchman, but to knock him down.  To be civil to them, is only to be laughed at, when they are enemies.”

We tremble, in this age of refinement, for the fate of so rough a sentiment; but, perhaps, we ought rather to tremble for that of the age which is become so refined.  It will, at least, not be disputed, by posterity, that no man ever knew better than Lord Nelson, how to deal properly with Frenchmen.

Besides assisting the councils of his Sicilian Majesty, with regard to the necessary arrangements for Naples, Lord Nelson was actively engaged in making a proper distribution of the squadron under his command, and directing the various operations already commenced, or in immediate contemplation.  He had already ordered the Bellerophon, Captain Darby, and the Zealous, Captain Hood, to Minorca:  and Captain Martin, in the Northumberland, was now detached, with the San Leon, Captain Harward, with orders to proceed off Civita Vecchia; looking out for Captain Nisbet of the Thalia, who had been seen cruizing off that place, and was to join them.  From thence, Captain Martin had instructions to proceed into Leghorn Roads, and send a boat on shore for intelligence respecting the affairs of the north of Italy, and the situation of the allied armies:  and, should he fall in with Captain Foote, of the Seahorse, to take that officer under his orders; and, proceeding to the Gulph of Genoa, co-operate with Field-Marshal Suwarrow, for the annoyance of the enemy, and the good of the common cause.