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LIFE OF COLONEL MACERON1.

the fate of fathers, husbands, brothers, children,* this legi-timate “ vicegerent of God,” this “ father of his people,”Ferdinand IV., clandestinely fled from Naples to Palermo on hoard the flag-ship of Admiral Nelson .

In order to account for the presence of Admiral Nelson at jNaples , I must step hack a few paces, and remind the readerthat Naples joined England in the war against France , in1793, and participated in the honours of the Toulon expedi-tion, which was the first to feel the power of Napoleon ’sarm. In 1796, a Neapolitan army of thirty thousand wason its march towards upper Italy , when hearing of thetotal overthrow of the Austrian armies, it halted on thePapal frontiers. A corps of three thousand Neapolitan cavalry had been attached to the army of the Austriangeneral Beaulieu, and so greatly distinguished themselvesunder the Neapolitan General Cuto, and my friend PrinceMoliterno, as to inspire Napoleon with a high opinion of theefficiency of the Neapolitan armies. He consequently en-couraged the disposition evinced hy the king of Naples to animmediate peace, which was forthwith concluded ; theN eapolitan forces retiring, and the ships of war being with-drawn from their co-operation with the British Mediter-ranean fleet. General Buonaparte had advanced with a veryinconsiderable force, as far south as Leghorn , establishing free |governments at every step. The Austrian General Wiirmser,at this juncture, re-entered Italy with a new and morepowerful army, than any yet engaged. Napoleon beingsuddenly obliged to concentrate his forces towards thenorth, the King of Naples conceived fresh hopes and cou-rage. Unmindful of the recent treaty, he re-marched his

* Most of the Colonna, Doria, Pignatelli, Sforza, Riario , Caracciolo,Serra Cassano, Canzano, Carafa, families, were immured in dungeons.