d pandered to the
cruel desires of the Bourbon king and queen for vengeance on those who
had revolted against their detestable government.[303]

With the fate of one Neapolitan rebel Nelson was immediately concerned.
Francesco Caracciolo, formerly commander of the royal fleet, had joined
the republicans, taken command of their vessels, and fired on his king's
frigate, the _Minerva_. He escaped from Naples on June 17, and so was
not included in the capitulation; he was arrested, and on Nelson's
repeated request was handed over to him by Ruffo on the 29th. Nelson
immediately ordered the captain of the _Minerva_ and other royal
officers to try him by court-martial on board his own flagship, the
_Foudroyant_. Caracciolo was found guilty of treason, and sentenced to
death with ignominy. Nelson ordered that he should be hanged that same
evening from the yard-arm of the _Minerva_, which was accordingly done.
He was forty-seven at the time of his death. His treason was patent, and
its penalty inevitable. Although Nelson does not appear to have received
any written commission from Ferdinand, he evidently had a right to order
the court-martial and to enforce its sentence,[304] but the eagerness
with which he acted and the indecent haste of the execution are
lamentable illustrations of his animosity. The garrison of St. Elmo
surrendered on terms, and the royal power was re-established in Naples.
The French fleet was still in the Mediterranean. Large as it was, it did
nothing of importance, save effecting a junction with the fleet of
Spain. The combined fleets reached Brest in September, outstripping the
pursuit of the British under Lord Keith, who succeeded St. Vincent as
commander-in-chief. In April, 1800, St. Vincent took command of the
channel fleet and instituted a strict blockade of Brest.

[Sidenote: _EXPEDITION TO THE HELDER._]

On June 22, 1799, Pitt made a convention with Russia for a joint
invasion of Holland. On the part of England the principal object was the
capture of the Dutch fleet in the Texel and the destruction of the naval
depot, which would deprive France of maritime aid from Holland, while
both the allied powers hoped to follow up the Austrian successes by
threatening the French frontier. It was expected that the Orange party
would be strong enough to give the invaders effectual help and that the
Dutch would rise against the French. The tsar promised 17,500 men, and
England agreed to send 13,000, to pay the