navy；〃 said he； 〃that Malta has not been attacked by land； but we have neither the means ourselves nor influence with those who have。〃 The same causes of demurral existed which prevented British troops from assisting in the expulsion of the French from Rome。 Sir James Erskine was expecting General Fox； he could not act without orders； and not having； like Nelson； that lively spring of hope within him； which partakes enough of the nature of faith to work miracles in war； he thought it 〃evident that unless a respectable land force； in numbers sufficient to undertake the siege of such a garrison； in one of the strongest places of Europe； and supplied with proportionate artillery and stores； were sent against it； no reasonable hope could be entertained of its surrender。〃 Nelson groaned over the spirit of over…reasoning caution and unreasoning obedience。 〃My heart；〃 said he； 〃is almost broken。 If the enemy gets supplies in； we may bid adieu to Malta； all the force we can collect would then be of little use against the strongest place in Europe。 To say that an officer is never； for any object； to alter his orders； is what I cannot comprehend。 The circumstances of this war so often vary； that an officer has almost every moment to consider； what would my superiors direct； did they know what was passing under my nose？〃 〃But； sir；〃 said he writing to the Duke of Clarence； 〃I find few think as I do。 To obey orders is all perfection。 To serve my king； and to destroy the French； I consider as the great order of all； from which little ones spring； and if one of these militate against it （for who can tell exactly at a distance？） I go back and obey the great order and object； to downdown with the damned French villains！my blood boils at the name of Frenchmen！〃
At length； General Fox arrived at Minorcaand at length permitted Col。 Graham to go to Malta； but with means miserably limited。 In fact； the expedition was at a stand for want of money； when Troubridge arriving at Messina to co…operate in it； and finding this fresh delay； immediately offered all that he could command of his own。 〃I procured him； my lord；〃 said he to Nelson；〃1500 of my cobsevery farthing and every atom of me shall be devoted to the cause。〃 〃What can this mean？〃 said Nelson； when he learned that Col。 Graham was ordered not to incur any expenses for stores； or any articles except provisions！〃the cause cannot stand still for want of a little money。 If nobody will pay it； I will sell Bronte and the Emperor of Russia's box。〃 And he actually pledged Bronte for L6600 if there should be any difficulty about paying the bills。 The long…delayed expedition was thus； at last； sent forth； but Troubridge little imagined in what scenes of misery he was to bear his part。 He looked to Sicily for supplies： it was the interest； as well as the duty of the Sicilian government to use every exertion for furnishing them； and Nelson and the British ambassador were on the spot to press upon them the necessity of exertion。 But； though Nelson saw with what a knavish crew the Sicilian court was surrounded； he was blind to the vices of the court itself； and resigning himself wholly to Lady Hamilton's influence； never even suspected the crooked policy which it was remorselessly pursuing。 The Maltese and the British in Malta severely felt it。 Troubridge； who had the truest affection for Nelson； knew his infatuation； and feared that it might prove injurious to his character； as well as fatal to an enterprise which had begun so well； and been carried on so patiently。
〃My lord；〃 said he； writing to him from the siege； 〃we are dying off fast for want。 I learn that Sir William Hamilton says Prince Luzzi refused corn some time ago； and Sir William does not think it worth while making another application。 If that be the case； I wish he commanded this distressing scene instead of me。 Puglia had an immense harvest； near thirty sail left Messina before I did； to load corn。 Will they let us have any？ If not； a short time will decide the business。 The German interest prevails。 I wish I was at your Lordship's elbow for an hour。 ALL； ALL； will be thrown on you！… I will parry the blow as much as in my power： I foresee much mischief brewing。 God bless your Lordship； I am miserable I cannot assist your operations more。 Many happy returns of the day to you（it was the first of the new year） I never spent so miserable a one。 I am not very tender…hearted； but really the distress here would even move a Neapolitan。〃 Soon afterwards he wrote；〃I have this day saved thirty thousand people from starving； but with this day my ability ceases。 As the government are bent on starving us； I see no alternative but to leave these poor unhappy people to perish； without our being witnesses of their distress。 I curse the day I ever served the Neapolitan government。 We have characters； my lord； to lose； these people have none。 Do not suffer their infamous conduct to fall on us。 Our country is just； but severe。 Such is the fever of my brain this minute； that I assure you； on my honour； if the Palermo traitors were here； I would shoot them first； and then myself。 Girgenti is full of corn； the money is ready to pay for it； we do not ask it as a gift。 Oh！ could you see the horrid distress I daily experience； something would be done。 Some engine is at work against us at Naples； and I believe I hit on the proper person。 If you complain he will be immediately promoted； agreeably to the Neapolitan custom。 All I write to you is known at the queen's。 For my own part； I look upon the Neapolitans as the worst of intriguing enemies： every hour shows me their infamy and duplicity。 I pray your lordship be cautious： your honest； open manner of acting will be made a handle of。 When I see you； and tell of their infamous tricks； you will be as much surprised as I am。 The whole will fall on you。〃
Nelson was not； and could not be； insensible to the distress which his friend so earnestly represented。 He begged； almost on his knees； he said； small supplies of money and corn； to keep the Maltese from starving。 And when the court granted a small supply； protesting their poverty； he believed their protestations； and was satisfied with their professions； instead of insisting that the restrictions upon the exportation of corn should be withdrawn。 The anxiety； however； which he endured； affected him so deeply that he said it had broken his spirit for ever。 Happily； all that Troubridge with so much reason foreboded； did not come to pass。 For Captain Ball； with more decision than Nelson himself would have shown at that time and upon that occasion； ventured upon a resolute measure； for which his name would deserve always to be held in veneration by the Maltese； even if it had no other claims to the love and reverence of a grateful people。 Finding it hopeless longer to look for succour or common humanity from the deceitful and infatuated court of Sicily； which persisted in prohibiting by sanguinary edicts the exportation of supplies； at his own risk； he sent his first lieutenant to the port of Girgenti； with orders to seize and bring with him to Malta the ships which were there lying laden with corn； of the numbers of which he had received accurate information。 These orders were executed to the great delight and advantage of the shipowners and proprietors： the necessity of raising the siege was removed； and Captain Ball waited in calmness for the consequences to himself。 The Neapolitan government complained to the English ambassador； and the complaint was communicated to Nelson； who； in return； requested Sir William Hamilton would fully and plainly state； that the act ought not to be considered as any intended disrespect to his Sicilian Majesty； but as of the most absolute and imperious necessity； the alternative being either of abandoning Malta to the French； or of anticipating the king's orders for carrying the corn in those vessels to Malta。 〃I trust；〃 he added； 〃that the government of the country will never again force any of our royal master's servants to so unpleasant an alternative。〃 Thus ended the complaint of the Neapolitan court。 〃The sole result was；〃 says Mr。 Coleridge； 〃that the governor of Malta became an especial object of its hatred； its fears； and its respect。〃
Nelson himself； at the beginning of February； sailed for that island。 On the way he fell in with a French squadron bound for its relief； and consisting of the GENEREUX seventy…four； three frigates； and a corvette。 One of these frigates and the line…of…battle ship were taken； the others escaped； but failed in their purpose of reaching La Valette。 This success was peculiarly gratifying to Nelson； for many reasons。 During some months he had acted as commander…in…chief in the Mediterranean； while Lord Keith was in England。 Lord Keith was now returned； and Nelson had； upon his own plan； and at his own risk； left him to sail for Malta； 〃for which；〃 said he； 〃if I had not succeeded； I might have been broke： and if I had not acted thus； the GENEREUX never would have been taken。〃 This ship was one of those which had escaped from Aboukir。 Two frigates； and the GUILLAUME TELL； eighty…six were all that now remained of the fleet which Buonaparte had conducted to Egypt。 The GUILLAUME TELL was at this time closely