TO

LORD NELSON.




Letters OF SIR WILLIAM HAMILTON, K.B. &c.


I.

[_Written before LORD NELSON'S Elevation to the Peerage._]

Naples, March 26th, 1796.

MY DEAR SIR,

The moment I received your letter of the 11th of March from Leghorn,
I went with it to General Acton: and, although I could not, from your
letter only, in my Ministerial character, demand from this Court
the assistance of some of their xebecs, corvettes, &c. that are the
fittest for going near shore; as I think, with you, that such
vessels are absolutely necessary on the present occasion, I told his
Excellency--that I trusted, as this government had hitherto shewn
itself as sanguine in the good cause, and more so, than any of the
allies of Great Britain, that he would lay your letter before the King
at Naples; and, without waiting for the demand which I should probably
receive soon from Sir John Jervis, send you such small armed vessels