lordship adds, that this will do for the present; and, that the large sum required must come from the three allied courts.  In a future letter, Lord Nelson observes, that this sum of four thousand ounces, was taken, for it was no where else to be had, from their Sicilian Majesties children, with the hope of being replaced with the money which Lord Grenville had so handsomely promised to the Marquis Circello.  “The enormous expences,” writes his lordship to Earl Spencer, “incurred within the last eight months, have drawn the king’s chest very low; but, his majesty has never failed giving every thing I could ask.”

On the 31st of October, Lord Nelson, fully resolved that nothing should, on his part, be neglected, for the attainment of Malta, or the advantage of it’s temporary chief, wrote a long epistle to the Emperor of Russia, as Grand Master.  In which, he details the principal operations of this protracted siege; the various difficulties which had occurred, and those which still existed:  with the admirable address, fortitude, and perseverance, of Captain Ball, in conciliating the inhabitants, relieving their necessities, and animating their nearly extinguished hopes; whose merits his lordship most earnestly recommended to the notice of his Imperial Majesty.  His lordship had before applied for the order of Malta, for his friend Ball, in a letter to Sir Charles Whitworth; but, not having received any answer, he says, in a letter to Captain Ball, “I have now gone to the fountain head.”

While Lord Nelson was thus earnestly solicitous to obtain honours for his meritorious friend, he little imagined that he should, in two or three days, be gratified by the acquisition of a new and most distinguished one conferred on himself.  This, however, actually and very unexpectedly happened:  for a Turkish corvette, which had probably reached Messina about the time when his lordship was writing the above letter in favour of his brave friend, brought from Constantinople Abdur Amand, a special messenger, sent by the Grand Signior, who arrived at Palermo on the 3d of November, and was charged with an additional manifestation of the Sublime Porte’s friendly esteem for our incomparable hero.  This gentleman, on that day, presented to Lord Nelson, as an honourable gift from his imperial master, the Grand Signior, a magnificent diamond star, or medallion; in the centre of which, on blue enamel, were represented the Turkish crescent and a star.  This valuable present was accompanied by an elegant letter from the Grand Vizier, dated the 9th of September:  in which it was announced, that the Grand Signior had been pleased to order Lord Nelson a medallion, which his Imperial Majesty was desirous should be worn on his lordship’s breast, as a mark of esteem for his kindness to Osman Hadgi—­a noble Turk, who had accompanied Lord Nelson from Alexandria, and to whom his lordship was much attached by the strongest ties of friendship—­as well as for the interest