96 LETTERS. [1803.-

whose situation I commiserate from the very bottom of mysoul.

Your Excellency will, I am sure, say every kind thing forme to Sir John Acton , and be assured that I am, with thehighest respect, your Excellency’s most obedient and faithfulservant, Nelson and Bronte.

Noon.—The Maidstone just joined, and I am looking atdear Naples, if it is what it was ; God send me good news !

TO IIIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT , ESQ.f Autograph, in the Elliot Papers.]

No. 1.

My dear Sir, m., June 25th, [1803,] off Capri,

I have read your letter, and those of General Acton ’s, withmuch attention ; and it could not cost me one minute’s re-flection, under all the peculiar circumstances of the Two Sicilies , what line of conduct I would pursue at the presentmoment, (but this must be subject to change, as the French may alter their conduct,) Great Britain having nothing elsein view than the preservation of the Two Sicilies . It is amost important point to decide (the French having invadedthe Kingdom, although with a pretence not just or honour-able,) when Sicily ought to be placed in a state of security.For the present, I am content to say that Messina need not betaken possession of ; 6 but the strictest watch must be kept bySir John Acton , that w r e are not lulled into a fatal security,and thus lose both the Kingdoms. If the French assemble agreater number of Troops than usual at Brindisi , Otranto , andTarento, or assemble any number of large Boats at thoseplaces, particularly Tarento, then I think that not a moment

6 In a Letter from Lord Hobart, Secretary of State for tlie War Department,to Major-General Villettes (vile \ol. i. p. 378,) or tlie Officer commanding tlieTroops in Malta , dated on the 17th of May, 1803, liis Lordship said, “if LordKelson, in the prosecution of his instructions, judged it expedient to take possessionof the Citadel and Fort of Messina , and should apply to you for the co-operationof a detachment of the Troops under your command, you are to comply with liisapplication, provided that the force which you shall so detach do not exceed 2000men, and that the said force can be spared from Malta without evident risk to thesecurity of that Island.”— Copy, in the possession of the Right Honourable John Wilson Croker .