1826.] Revolution at Palermo, in the Year 1820. y39 



ther being fine with but little wind, and the crew having taken refresh- 

 ment and an additional quantity of excellent I\Iarsala wine, part of the 

 supply of Mr. Wodehouse, I allowed them a few hours' repose before I 

 acquainted them with my intention of going directly to Naples. Every 

 individual in the boat had need of rei)0se, and the wine and mutual con- 

 gratulations having made the crew rather loquacious, it was not a 

 moment to acquaint them with what steps were next to be taken. The 

 direction of the boat, however, was kept from the coast, and she made 

 but little way for want of wind. After the crew had described those sailors 

 in the Palermitan boats whom they knew, and represented them as muti- 

 nous and dangerous characters, and I had repeatedly thanked the 

 captain and his brave men for their fidelity, assuring them at the same 

 time that their conduct would not be unrewarded, the exultation and 

 happiness of these brave fellows broke out in loud cheering, and gra- 

 dually subsided into less violent joy ; which was succeeded by singing 

 national sea songs, not altogether devoid of melody, and highly gratify- 

 ing to the feelings of those whose lives had been saved by their courage. 

 As soon as the songs ceased, perfect silence reigned, not only in the 

 boat, but on the surface of the deep, nor could aught be seen by the 

 faint moonlight but sea and sky, and the little boat with her adven- 

 turous inmates now, with few exceptions, insensible to fatigue or 

 danger. 



Shortly after midnight the wind sprung up, and I informed the cap- 

 tain that it was my intention to go straight to Naples. The mention 

 of Naples roused the attention of the sailors, who joined their com- 

 mander 'in objecting to this; nor were the reasons which these poor 

 men gave, bad, and though I combated them, they made their due 

 impression on my mind. I knew that going to Naples was flying into 

 the lion's mouth ; but the conviction that it vias my duty to go, and a 

 wish that the scenes of Palermo might soon be put an end to, for the 

 sake of humanity, were powerful counterbalancing motives ; I had other 

 reasons, and chiefly relating to the interests of the sovereign whom I 

 served ; and having nothing to reproach myself with, I felt no appre- 

 hension whatever from the malice of my private or political enemies ; I 

 therefore overruled all the prayers of the sailors, who were rendered 

 almost desperate by the idea of going to Naples ; the captain in particu- 

 cular stating that " he would readily lose his life for me, but that he 

 could not go to Naples." He said that his orders were to go to Trap- 

 pani, but that he would gladly take me to IMalta, where, he added, 

 they would all be safe ; at Naples, he said, they would be in the hands 

 of worse enemies than even those of Palermo. INIy promises, and the 

 persuasions of my officers, at last conquered the repugnance in the cap- 

 tain and his crew, and the order was immediately given to steer for 

 Naples. The 20th, 21st and 22d, were occupied in this tedious 

 voyage ; the wind was generally baffling ; when the weather was calm, 

 the oars were incessantly plied ; and I laboured as hard as the brave 

 sailors, whose attention and kindness to me cannot be described. 



The boat arrived at Naples at six o'clock in the morning of the 23d 

 of July, and passing close to an English sloop of war, entered the mole. 

 Here I was doomed to sulFer a persecution as dangerous as that of 

 Palermo, but more wearying from its length, and more exasperating 

 from its being authorized by the existing government. " The sect of the 



