on, that the principal inhabitants of Rome, and other professors
and admirers of the fine arts, were about to erect, in that city, a
grand monumental testimony of their gratitude to his lordship, for
having delivered the country, as well as those valuable treasures of art
and antiquity which had for ages formed it's proudest boast, from the
tyranny and rapacity of French cruelty and barbarism, he immediately
addressed the following letter to Mr. Fagan, an ingenious artist at
Rome, who had so handsomely made the communication of this pleasing
intelligence, through Sir William, and with whom the design of that
honourable intention appears to have chiefly originated.

Palermo, 19th Dec. 1799.

"DEAR SIR,

"Sir William Hamilton has been so kind as to communicate to me the
distinguished honour intended me by the inhabitants, by you, and
other professors and admirers of the fine arts at Rome, to erect a
monument. I have not words sufficient to express my feelings, on
hearing that my actions have contributed to preserve the works
which form the school of fine arts in Italy, which the modern Goths
wanted to carry off and destroy. That they may always remain in the
only place worthy of them, Rome, are and will be my fervent wishes;
together with the esteem of, dear Sir, your most obliged servant,

"Bronte Nelson."

Had the several powers of the continent taken the constant advice of his
lordship, cordially to unite, in resolutely opposing the French
pillagers of principle as well as property, these rare productions of
the Greek and Roman schools of art would not since have found their way
to Paris, nor the projected grand rostral column have finally failed
equally to honour Rome and our immortal hero.

On the 17th of December, the Phaeton, Captain Morris, arrived from
Constantinople; having, by desire of the Ottoman ministry, brought two
Turkish ministers, one for Tunis, and the other for Algiers, to be
landed by Captain Morris, in his way down the Mediterranean. These
Turkish gentlemen brought Lord Nelson a very elegant letter from the
Grand Signior; accompanied by a drawing of the Battle of the Nile, and
another of the hero himself: "a curious present," pointedly says his
lordship, in writing next day to Earl Spencer; "but highly flattering to
me, as it marks that I am not in the least forgotten."

At this time, too, Lord Nelson received, from the inhabitan