from being so close as was
necessary to prevent the enemy from carrying off those truly
valuable articles; I, therefore, thought it best to grant the
liberal terms I have, to get them out of this country, where they
have committed every excess possible. I trust, what I have done,
may meet their lordships approbation. I beg you to represent to
their lordships, that I received every assistance from Captain
Louis; who went to Rome, and arranged the evacuation and taking
possession of that place, with General Bouchard, with great ability
and exertion, and much to my satisfaction.

I have the honour to be, &c. T. Troubridge.

Evan Nepean, Esq."

Lord Nelson informed Earl Spencer, in a private letter, as well as the
Admiralty Board in a public one to Mr. Nepean, that he had desired
Commodore Troubridge to send extracts of all his letters to him, as
temporary commander in chief of the Mediterranean fleet, with the terms
on which the French evacuated the Roman state. "I sincerely congratulate
your lordship," concludes Lord Nelson to Earl Spencer, "on this event,
so honourable to our country; for the French would treat with no country
but Britain."

It was, certainly, a most singular circumstance, that Rome should thus
be reduced by a naval force: and it appeared to be the more remarkable,
as it fulfilled what was now called a prophecy, which had been
pronounced on our hero's first arrival at Naples after his glorious
victory off the Nile; in which it had been said, _that his lordship
should take Rome by his_ ships. This prophecy, however, it
seems proper to remark--the author having no desire to encourage the
growth of superstition, or to degrade the dignity of historical research
by dazzling weak powers of perception with the fascinative influence of
the marvellous--was considered, at the time of it's being pronounced, as
nothing more than a mere harmless Hibernicism; originating in the zeal
of Father M'Cormick, a very honest and worthy Irish priest, who had come
from Rome to Naples, disgusted at the enormities of the French. This
good and loyal man, in the ardent warmth of congratulating Lord Nelson
on his stupendous victory, triumphantly exclaimed--"And your lordship
shall, before long, take Rome, too, with your _ships!_" A declaration
which, it may be supposed, was heard with far less gravity than it was
uttered, though now converted into a prophetic anticipation