I should be sorry to omit acknowledging your kind letter of the
twenty-sixth.

When I come to Naples, I can have nothing pleasant to say of the
conduct of his Sicilian Majesty's ministers towards the inhabitants
of Malta, who wish to be under the dominion of their legitimate
Sovereign. The total neglect and indifference with which they have
been treated, appears to me _cruel_ in the extreme.

Had not the English supplied fifteen hundred stand of arms, with
bayonets, cartouch-boxes, and ammunition, &c. &c. and the Marquis
supplied some few, and kept the spirit of those brave islanders from
falling off, they must long ago have bowed again to the French yoke.

Could you, my dear Sir William, have believed, after what General
Acton and the Marquis de Gallo had said, in our various conversations
relative to this island, that nothing had been sent by the Governor of
Syracuse--_secretly_ (was the word to us) or openly--to this island?
And, I am farther assured, that the Governor of Syracuse never had any
orders sent him to supply the smallest article.

I beg your Excellency will state this, in confidence, to General
Acton. I shall, most assuredly, tell it to the King! The justice I
owe myself, now I feel employed in the service of their Sicilian
Majesties, demands it of me; and, also, the duty I owe our gracious
King, in order to shew that I am doing my utmost to comply with his
royal commands.

As I have before stated, had it not been for the English, long, long
ago, the Maltese must have been overpowered. Including the fifteen
hundred stand of arms given by us, not more than three thousand are in
the island. I wonder how they have kept on the defensive so long.

The Emerald will sail--in twenty-four hours after my arrival--for
Malta; at least, two thousand stand of small arms complete,
ammunition, &c. &c. should be sent by her. This is wanted, to defend
themselves: for offence, two or three large mortars; fifteen hundred
shells, with all necessaries; and, perhaps, a few artillery--two
ten-inch howitzers, with a thousand shells. The Bormola, and all
the left side of the harbour, with this assistance, will fall. Ten
thousand men are required to defend those works, the French can only
spare twelve hundred; therefore, a vigorous assault in many parts,
some one must succeed.

But, who have the government of Naples sent to lead or encourage these
people? A very good--and, I dare say, brave--old man; enervated, and
shakin