232 General Sir Richard Church's Narraiive of the [MAiicn, 



received the most hospitable reception. I told him, however, that if 

 he tliought my presence might, at the moment or afterwards, be detri- 

 mental to him — from the state of Palermo and the approaching distur- 

 bances — I begged him to say so without hesitation, and I would 

 immediately re-embark and sail from Marsala. To this proposition 

 Mr. Wodehouse would not listen ; he said (with tlie confidence of a 

 heart conscious of benevolent acts), " the people of Marsala have too 

 many obligations to me to offend me ; but, were there evil spirits amongst 

 them likely to create a riot, and insult my house while you were in it, I 

 know how to defend it, and have a sufficient number of my workmen and 

 boatmen at hand to defy the whole population ; but I am not under any 

 apprehension on that score ; besides, the people of Mai'sala need not 

 know that you are here. I knew you were not what you represented 

 yourselves to be in the boat ; your boots and your general manner gave 

 me to understand that there was mystery in the case, and I awaited till 

 you chose to reveal the seci-et, as it was not my business to pry into it." 

 In fact, our grotesque appearance in our long boots and sailors jackets 

 evidently indicated military men of some sort., 



Mr. Wodehouse stated, that they had heard various reports of the 

 affair at Palermo ; among others, that the populace had murdered me, 

 and that the troops had not taken any part in the scenes of revolt and 

 riot either to preserve order or other^vise. He said, that Marsala was 

 quiet, and beigged me to take refreshment and remain at least that night 

 at his house : in short, this admirable man offered himself unlimitedly in 

 every way that he could be of use. My mind was, in the mean time, 

 riveted to the affairs of Palermo, and I still longed to be there, in spite of 

 every order and circumstance, though for what purpose I could hardly 

 explain to myself, after the manner in which I had been treated by 

 the populace and abandoned by the military. In the mean time, I 

 accepted Mr. Wodehouse's hospitality, and his offer to provide the crew 

 of the gun-boat with provisions and wine for several days ; which he 



S mediately ordered to be got ready. I then sent for the commanding 

 icer of a Neapolitan gun-boat which v/as in the port, and finding that 

 I Qould confide in him, I told him who I was, and desired him immediately 

 to furnish the gun-boat with thirty or forty rounds of ammunition 

 for the twelve-pounder, and ball cartridge for the muskets on board : 

 tlii^ order was immediately complied with. I proposed to this officer to 

 join me with his gun-boat, but this he declined, on account of his being 

 in the service of the Marsala health-office. I requested Mr. Wode- 

 house to send for the English vice-consul, in order to find out from him 

 the real state of Marsala, and what news had been received there ; 

 and he was accordingly sent for. As he was considered trustworthy, 

 I made myself known, and, relying on his honour, requested lie would 

 go back to Marsala and return in an hour ; but sooner if any news 

 of importance required its being immediately communicated. The 

 consul, however, before he left me, said, that there was a considerable 

 degree of fermentation in Marsala, and that a courier had arrived 

 there from Palermo with orders' " to follow in every respect the wishes 

 of the people." He assured me that he would let me know imme- 

 diately if any thing took place, or if it was known in Marsala who was 

 arrived in the gun-boat. 



The whole party, inclusive of the captain of the gun-boat, were now 

 quietly sitting down to an excellent dinner with their generous hoet,' 



