thought it best to grant the liberal terms I have, to get them out of this country, where they have committed every excess possible.  I trust, what I have done, may meet their lordships approbation.  I beg you to represent to their lordships, that I received every assistance from Captain Louis; who went to Rome, and arranged the evacuation and taking possession of that place, with General Bouchard, with great ability and exertion, and much to my satisfaction.

     I have the honour to be, &c.  T. Troubridge.

     Evan Nepean, Esq.”

Lord Nelson informed Earl Spencer, in a private letter, as well as the Admiralty Board in a public one to Mr. Nepean, that he had desired Commodore Troubridge to send extracts of all his letters to him, as temporary commander in chief of the Mediterranean fleet, with the terms on which the French evacuated the Roman state.  “I sincerely congratulate your lordship,” concludes Lord Nelson to Earl Spencer, “on this event, so honourable to our country; for the French would treat with no country but Britain.”

It was, certainly, a most singular circumstance, that Rome should thus be reduced by a naval force:  and it appeared to be the more remarkable, as it fulfilled what was now called a prophecy, which had been pronounced on our hero’s first arrival at Naples after his glorious victory off the Nile; in which it had been said, that his lordship should take Rome by his ships.  This prophecy, however, it seems proper to remark—­the author having no desire to encourage the growth of superstition, or to degrade the dignity of historical research by dazzling weak powers of perception with the fascinative influence of the marvellous—­was considered, at the time of it’s being pronounced, as nothing more than a mere harmless Hibernicism; originating in the zeal of Father M’Cormick, a very honest and worthy Irish priest, who had come from Rome to Naples, disgusted at the enormities of the French.  This good and loyal man, in the ardent warmth of congratulating Lord Nelson on his stupendous victory, triumphantly exclaimed—­“And your lordship shall, before long, take Rome, too, with your ships!” A declaration which, it may be supposed, was heard with far less gravity than it was uttered, though now converted into a prophetic anticipation of the event.  This honest Irish pastor, though not regarded as a prophet by Lord Nelson, was so well known to be a pious and faithful priest, that his lordship, who was for ever studying how he could best serve all persons of merit who came in his way, afterwards recommended him to the present Pope, in a letter which was written, expressly for that purpose, by Lady Hamilton.