Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar12300
French soldiers who went on shore were assassinated ; if it be recollected that since Malta has been in the hands of the French , the Maltese boats which came as usual to take in provisions in Sicily were prevented , the gates shut against them , and they were repulsed with fire-arms ; that the plan of surprising Malta , while it remained in the hands of the French , was not even dissembled by the Neapolitan Government , and a Maltese bark , which was ing French Commissaries sent to the Viceroy of Sicily , having been
carry forced by an English shallop to take refuge at Alciata , the crew having landed , were immediately pursued with musquetry by the Sicilians , and forced to reimbark , when the bark was immediately taken by the-English , without the Neapolitan Government making the smallest representation to cause the neutrality to be respected .
If , too , it be added , that on another occasion one of our corsairs having been carried ott'b y force in the port of Barratto , the Governor of that place did not condescend to take any measures to prevent such an attack upon the Sovereignty of the King of the Two Sicilies , and in short that such is the hostile delirium ancl hatred of the King of Naples towards the French and their allies , that in contempt of all the ties which should bind him to the King of Spain , he has had the imprudence to receive into his ports a Spanish
prize taken by the English . If too we recollect the inconceivable joy which was manifested at Naples on the sight of the English fleet , the public honours which the Court itself lavished on Admiral Nelson ingoing out to welcome him ; his triumphant entry , the large reward granted to the' messenger who brought the first account of his victory , and the , illuminations and rejoicings which took lace on the occasion—if it be remembered that from the time
p of this victory the audacity of the Neapolitan Government has known no bounds ; that lately an unrestrained populace broke the windows of our Consul at Naples , without the Neapolitan Government having taken any measures to repress such an insult ; that the late sedition at Malta , wasopenly protected in the Neapolitan States ; that the markets and all . the public p laces resounded with the most terrible invectives against us ; that all who were inclined to encourage peace with France , were persecuted with the most
acrimonious rage ; that at length a barbarous order was issued by th . e King of Naples , menacing with death whoever should carry provisions to the French at Malta . If all these circumstances are considered , it must be allowed thatmore hostile sentiments never were manifested than on one side , nor more
patience shewn than on tne other . The Executive Directory , however , put off as long as possible the moment in which it was to wreak the vengeance of * the nation . It was made clear to demonstration to them that the Court of Naples did not confine its hostility against the Republic to complaints , menaces , or fury ; that after having for along time after the conclusion of the peace shewn the most hostile disposition , it had for a long time been at open hostility , and had lavished succours of
all kinds on our most cruel enemy ; that in short she wr . s become the All y of Great Britain , and as useful to that Power as she was prejudicial to . us ; and yet the French Government , faithful to its desire of preserving peat ' s even with Naples , was willing to hope than there was yet a possibility o ? repentance . This honourable illusion has been , however , dissipated b y the Neapolitan Government , which has brought its long train of perjuries to the height . It has dared to attack suddenly the French array , and to accompany
this agression with the most insolent menaces . The Republican energy , long confined , will now break forth with the strength of" thunder ; and this Court too long spared , which , imitating the illegal conduit of the British Government , has dated to be guilty of breaking the laws of peacs-, without
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar12300
French soldiers who went on shore were assassinated ; if it be recollected that since Malta has been in the hands of the French , the Maltese boats which came as usual to take in provisions in Sicily were prevented , the gates shut against them , and they were repulsed with fire-arms ; that the plan of surprising Malta , while it remained in the hands of the French , was not even dissembled by the Neapolitan Government , and a Maltese bark , which was ing French Commissaries sent to the Viceroy of Sicily , having been
carry forced by an English shallop to take refuge at Alciata , the crew having landed , were immediately pursued with musquetry by the Sicilians , and forced to reimbark , when the bark was immediately taken by the-English , without the Neapolitan Government making the smallest representation to cause the neutrality to be respected .
If , too , it be added , that on another occasion one of our corsairs having been carried ott'b y force in the port of Barratto , the Governor of that place did not condescend to take any measures to prevent such an attack upon the Sovereignty of the King of the Two Sicilies , and in short that such is the hostile delirium ancl hatred of the King of Naples towards the French and their allies , that in contempt of all the ties which should bind him to the King of Spain , he has had the imprudence to receive into his ports a Spanish
prize taken by the English . If too we recollect the inconceivable joy which was manifested at Naples on the sight of the English fleet , the public honours which the Court itself lavished on Admiral Nelson ingoing out to welcome him ; his triumphant entry , the large reward granted to the' messenger who brought the first account of his victory , and the , illuminations and rejoicings which took lace on the occasion—if it be remembered that from the time
p of this victory the audacity of the Neapolitan Government has known no bounds ; that lately an unrestrained populace broke the windows of our Consul at Naples , without the Neapolitan Government having taken any measures to repress such an insult ; that the late sedition at Malta , wasopenly protected in the Neapolitan States ; that the markets and all . the public p laces resounded with the most terrible invectives against us ; that all who were inclined to encourage peace with France , were persecuted with the most
acrimonious rage ; that at length a barbarous order was issued by th . e King of Naples , menacing with death whoever should carry provisions to the French at Malta . If all these circumstances are considered , it must be allowed thatmore hostile sentiments never were manifested than on one side , nor more
patience shewn than on tne other . The Executive Directory , however , put off as long as possible the moment in which it was to wreak the vengeance of * the nation . It was made clear to demonstration to them that the Court of Naples did not confine its hostility against the Republic to complaints , menaces , or fury ; that after having for along time after the conclusion of the peace shewn the most hostile disposition , it had for a long time been at open hostility , and had lavished succours of
all kinds on our most cruel enemy ; that in short she wr . s become the All y of Great Britain , and as useful to that Power as she was prejudicial to . us ; and yet the French Government , faithful to its desire of preserving peat ' s even with Naples , was willing to hope than there was yet a possibility o ? repentance . This honourable illusion has been , however , dissipated b y the Neapolitan Government , which has brought its long train of perjuries to the height . It has dared to attack suddenly the French array , and to accompany
this agression with the most insolent menaces . The Republican energy , long confined , will now break forth with the strength of" thunder ; and this Court too long spared , which , imitating the illegal conduit of the British Government , has dated to be guilty of breaking the laws of peacs-, without