been courteous and
affable, not deficient in information, and to have established many of
those institutions which pave the way to liberty; but he blames him for
neglecting his ample opportunities of establishing his power on a solid
basis, and acquiring the affections of his subjects. The higher
classes--of which, in Naples, contrary to what is the case in many
countries, the liberal party consists--were devoted to Joseph, until he
disgusted them by various parts of his conduct, and especially by the
introduction of a horde of Frenchmen, who monopolised the most lucrative
posts, both civil and military. He also gave offence by his luxurious
and expensive manner of living. The sumptuousness of his table was
proverbial throughout the kingdom, and, having left Madame Joseph in
France, he permitted himself considerable license in other respects,
living a very free life amongst the young beauties of his court, whom he
used to take with him on his hunting excursions under the name of
_cacciatrici_. It is probable that Neapolitan morality might have found
little ground for censure in these Sardanapalian indulgences, but for
the heavy expenses they entailed upon Neapolitan pockets, and, indeed,
they were most unjustifiable in a country impoverished by wars and
revolutions.

Personally, Pepe had no reason to complain of the king, who gave him a
lieutenant-colonelcy and charged him with the organisation of the
militia in Upper Calabria. Eager to serve his country, the newly made
field officer hurried to his post. The English had not yet landed, but
some of Ruffo's former followers had been put on shore, and laboured,
not unsuccessfully, to induce the peasantry to revolt. Pepe soon found
himself in action. Surprised in the town of Scigliano, he shut himself
up in a house with two-and-twenty French soldiers, and there made a
desperate defence against an overpowering force of the insurgents.
Compelled to surrender, he received from his captors intelligence of the
battle of Maida. So persuaded was he of the invincibility of the French,
that at first he could not credit their defeat. He gives a brief account
of the action, founded upon the report of French officers of rank
present at it, and upon details collected from the inhabitants of Maida
and Nicastro. It smells of its French origin. At the battle of Maida
there were barely thirteen thousand men in the field, of which the
larger portion, by some twenty-five hundred, were French.