The fate of Naples was, in truth, at this time fast approaching. The
Prince General Pignatelli had signed an armistice with the French, in
which the name of the King of Naples was omitted to be mentioned, who
could not but entirely disapprove of such a proceeding; and the French,
who were in possession of Capua, now visited Naples as a friendly place.
In this situation of affairs, his lordship, though very unwell, offered
to go to the Bay of Naples; but both the king and queen so earnestly
pressed him not to move, that he was unable to withstand their
intreaties: they were, they freely acknowledged, full of apprehensions,
and had confidence in him only for their safety.

What the abilities of a Nelson might have effected, had it been possible
for him to have headed, at land, the loyal Lazzaroni of Naples, is
incapable of being ascertained; but no skill or valour could alone have
long preserved a nation so corrupt and pusillanimous from the
destruction which, by their meanness, the generality of the upper and
middling classes were inviting. There wanted, only, what their subtle
invaders well knew was never far distant, some plausible artifice
suddenly to prevail over the simplicity of the honest but credulous
vulgar, which could not fail to divert that powerful torrent, into
whatever channel should most rapidly lead them to the gulph of
perdition.

Without entering into the history of this war, which is neither
practicable, nor requisite, on the present occasion, it may be briefly
remarked--that Championet, the French general, is well known to have
informed the Directory at Paris that, by means of a correspondence with
the disaffected party, he should be master of Naples by the time they
received the news of the capitulation of Capua--that this treachery soon
becoming suspected by the Lazzaroni, who were in the royal interest,