ANGLO SICILIAN EXPEDITION.

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gands, collected from the prisons of Sicily , were dispersedinto the woods to scour the country, to seduce the credulous,to kill, burn, pillage in a thousand variegated ways. Thisthey certainly did to the hearts’ content of their legitimateemployers; so that at this hour, many an orphan and help-less widow lives to remember their services in the Britishcause.

Meanwhile the Anglo-Sicilian fleets, in three divisions,kept sailing round the coasts of the Adriatic, as well as ofthe Mediterranean, landing assassins, pillaging villages,circulating invitations to revolt, but gaining no friends, savesuch felons as they liberated from the prisons to recruittheir forces and means of wanton mischief.

King Joachim shewed himself quite equal to the crisis.He made every possible disposition for defence. He recalledfrom Rome the talented and trustworthy Saliceti ; tookmeasures to secure the tranquillity of the capital, which heconsigned to the guard of the civic volunteer forces;formed a camp at Monteleone; another at Lago Negro;and gave the commands of the fortresses to men in whosehonour he could confide. All this was done without theslightest show of bustle and alarm. He, together with thequeen, were more frequent in their attendance at thetheatres; more balls, and dinners, and parties of pleasurewere given. Never did things look more established andsecure.

During ten days the main English fleet, under Sir JohnStuart, sailed leisurely along the coast, every day effectingsome momentary landing, in order to burn some village orprivate dwelling. At length it arrived in the bay of Naples,and for two whole days displayed its imposing aspect to thecitizens. On the third day it landed the troops on theislands of Ischia and Procida :—most likely to refresh themen and horses. However, they attacked and captured thevql. i, 2 c