Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Letters and Despatches of Horatio, Viscount Nelson, K. B., Duke of Bronte, Vice-Admiral of the White Squadron
A similar attack has been made on Nelson's character for the sanctioning and ordering the execution of Caracciolo (pp. 201 When the lies are cleared away, it is difficult to understand the objection. That Caracciolo was a traitor under circumstances of peculiar ?agrancy and had taken a leading part in the rebellion, there was not a shadow of a doubt. His treason was more than admitted, it was boasted of by his friends.1 That he was a man of good family and high naval rank was, in reality, an aggravation of his guilt. That he was seventy years of age, is false: he was forty seven.2 That he was included in the capitulation of the castles, and was taken out of one or other of them on the faith of the capitulation, is false he had ?ed to the mountains when he saw the capitulation imminent; a reward had been offered for his apprehension; he was accordingly apprehended and brought on board the Foudroyant on 29 June, three days after the surrender of the castles. That he was promptly tried, found guilty and hanged, is true enough. The statement that Count Thurn was his personal enemy is unsup ported by evidence, and - true or false - has nothing to do with the matter; for no attempt has ever been made to show that the finding of the Court was wrong his guilt has been held to be his glory. As to the sentence and the carrying it out, whatever people may think now, then, at least, death was held to be the natural and necessary reward of unsuccessful treason. Nelson was certainly not a cruel or bloodthirsty man; but he was at Naples to maintain the authority of the established government against the machina tions of the French and the summary punishment of the leaders of the rebellion was the truest kindness to the nation at large.
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