hing of the intention to extend
the order. He thus begins a letter to his brother on the 5th of
January:--"I seize this moment, when the arrival of the post has brought
me the enclosed without one single line from any friend I have on earth:
possibly, it was owing to the lateness of the nomination. I had not the
most distant idea of this event, and I can only account for its coming
to me by the squabbling of parties ... to end which, it was probably
decided on giving it to the commander-in-chief. On this ground only can
I account for it, as it was by no means necessary to add this, which was
once considered due to me as a reward of sufficient magnitude, without
any other.

"6th January, 1815.--I had written the above before any gazette reached
me, which explains the whole. But as it shows my heart and mind to you
without reserve, and as I can call God to witness, that I never in my
life kept anything from you. I send it.--May God bless you."

He had remained but a few months in England, when, on the renewal of
hostilities consequent on the return of Napoleon from Elba, he was sent
back to the Mediterranean. Hoisting his flag in the _Boyne_, and again
with his brother, Sir Israel, as captain of the fleet, he hastened to
his station. His services were first required at Naples, which he was
so happy as to save from all the horrors of anarchy. Murat, that he
might create a diversion in favour of Napoleon, had rashly attacked
Austria, and thus violated the compact by which he was allowed to hold
his usurped throne. What followed scarcely deserves the name of war. His
army, not waiting for the enemy to approach, fled like sheep, and left
the Austrian commander an unresisted march to Naples. Lord Exmouth,
after having arranged with Lord W. Bentinek for the co-operation of the
forces from Sicily with the allies, had arrived on the evening of the
18th of May, at Civita Vecchia, whence, on learning the rapid advance of
the Austrians, he proceeded without delay for Naples, where he anchored
on the evening of the 20th. Madame Murat embarked the same night on
board a British seventy-four, and immediately wrote to Lord Exmouth,
requesting that he would take measures for the security and peace of the
city. No capital in Europe contains within itself more formidable
elements for popular tumult; and upon this occasion, the mob, excited by
the general confusion, and not restrained by any adequate authority,
were proceeding to the last e