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LIFE OF COLONEL MACE RON I.

first excited feelings of joy and gratulation, but upon theexhibition of her credentials, and the urging of the suit en-trusted to her, the instinctive sense of justice existing in the jadmiral, caused him to shudder at the propositions. Con-quered, however, by the wiley woman whom he loved, theweakness of humanity prevailed within him, and he engagedto be an instrument and abettor of royal perjury andmurder.

Many illustrious men had already suffered death, whenAdmiral Caracciolo , betrayed by a servant in his retreat,and brought to Naples, was claimed by Nelson, from outthe hands of Cardinal Ruffo, and as every one at first sup-posed, for the generous purpose of saving his friend andfrequent guest, and praise was given him accordingly. Butinfluenced, however, by some pique or jealousy, symptomsof which had previously appeared, which I have not spaceto detail, Nelson caused his quondam friend to be confinedon board his flag ship. There summoning a court-martialof Neapolitan officers, he placed at the head of it the ship-burning tool of despotism, Count Thurn. Notwithstandingthe base composition of this execrable tribunal, it had notthe heart to condemn the noble and gallant admiral todeath, as was expected and desired by his persecutors. Thesentence of imprisonment for life was recorded. But Nelsonshamelessly expressing dissatisfaction, the award of deathwas substituted in its place upon the document !

At two o’clock p.m. the atrocious court arose, and on thevery instant without delay, Francis Caracciolo , a Neapolitanprince , admiral of the fleet, learned in art, fortunate inwar, distinguished for thirty-five years brilliant service tohis country ; betrayed by a servant, and by his frequentcompanion Nelson, his person consecrated by the capitula-tion, hut now bound with chains, was hanged from theyard-arm of the frigate Minerva, along side the ship of