" Perhaps he thought," says an intelligent writer, " as many others have thought, that the king's abdication of his throne, Without making so strenuous an opposition as he might have done to the revolutionary system, and his quitting his capital several weeks before any enemy approached it, might plead his excuse for joining those who were now resolved to erect a new government, since they were abandoned by their old." *

When the recovery of Naples was evidently near, Caraccioli applied to Cardinal Ruffo, and to the Duke of Calvinrano, for protection, hoping that 40 years of faithful services would out-weigh the few days during which, as he stated, he had been forced to obey the French. Not being successful in his application, and knowing the temper of the Sicilian court, he fled from one of the two forts which had last capitulated. Whether this occurred a day or two before or after the treaty had been concluded, is uncertain and perhaps immaterial. A price was set upon his head ; and on the 29th of June, at about 9 a.m., Caraccioli, in the disguise of a peasant, was brought alongside of the Foudroyant. We shall give what immediately followed in the words of Lord Nelson's biographers, Messieurs Clarke and M'Arthur : " Captain Hardy, who was on deck at the time, had his attention suddenly attracted to a clamour that prevailed, and it was some time before he could gain information from the Italians who were on board, that the 'traitor Caraccioli was taken.' It was with the utmost difficulty that this humane officer could restrain the insults and violence of the Neapolitan royalists towards this unhappy victim of French perfidy ; who, with his hands bound behind him, and wretchedly attired, displayed a painful instance of the uncertainty of all human grandeur. When last on board, this prince had been received with all .the respect and deference that were then due to his rank and character. Captain Hardy immediately ordered his noble prisoner to be unbound, and to be treated with every attention that was in his power. Some refreshment was immediately offered, which he declined, and he was then given in charge as a prisoner to the first lieutenant, Mr. W. S. Parkinson, and shown into his cabin. Two additional sentinels were then placed at the outside of the wardroom." †

In acting thus, Captain Hardy had but obeyed the impulses of an upright mind and a manly heart. Unhappily, the mind of another person, equally well-disposed when in health, was now possessed by a demon, who had the power to expel every generous feeling, and substitute in their stead the worst of those vindictive passions which degrade human nature. The sequel to Caraccioli's capture is too well known to need a full recital. At 10 a.m. he was put upon his trial, before a court-martial composed of Neapolitan naval officers, with Commodore Count

* Williams's Voyage up the Mediterranean, p. 210.
† Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii., p. I84.

^ back to top ^