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LIFE OF COLONEL MACERONI.

numbers. I have already noticed several of the first liberaland beneficial acts of Murat on his arrival at Naples .My limits will not allow me to enter further into particu-lars.

The Island of Capri, within full view of Naples , fromwhich the assassins in the service of the Queen of Sicily werecontinually being landed on the Neapolitan coast, had a stronggarrison commanded by Sir Hudson Lowe , consisting of threeregiments,—one British, one Corsican , and one that had beenraised at Malta officered by English ; making together 1,800men. Three years had this island been in possession of theBritish , who expended much money and labour in adding tothe strength of its naturally almost inaccessible formation,so it was very appositely called “ the little Gibraltar .”There is but one little track of beach or landing place;all the rest of its circumference is perpendicular rock, manyhundred feet high. Two essential conditions were requiredto attack such a place with any chance of success;—achosen band of experienced soldiers, and the blow beinggiven by surprise. In the night of the 3rd of October,fifteen hundred picked men, French and Neapolitans, weresilently assembled in the Arsenal at Naples . To preventinformation being previously sent to Capri , instead ofmaking ladders for the purpose, several hundred of thosewhich served for lighting the street lamps, were suddenlycollected. The expedition, commanded by LieutenantGeneral Lamarque, * and Brigadier General Pignatelli,sailed at about eleven o’clock at night,—(I saw them depart).The weather was beautiful, but being liable to variation atthat season, a considerable swell was found to break upon

* The same who subsequently so much distinguished himself as aliberal Deputy in the French Parliament, and was lately buried at Paris with great civic and military honours.