CHAPTER VI.
1798 - 1800 Nelson returns to Naples--State of that Court and Kingdom--General Mack--The French approach Naples--Flight of the Royal Family--Successes of the Allies in Italy--Transactions in the Bay of Naples--Expulsion of the French from the Neapolitan and Roman States--Nelson is made Duke of Bronte--He leaves the Mediterranean and returns to England.
NELSON's health had suffered greatly while he was in the AGAMEMNON.

"My complaint," he said, "is as if a girth were buckled taut over my breast, and my endeavour in the night is to get it loose." After the battle of Cape St.Vincent he felt a little rest to be so essential to his recovery, that he declared he would not continue to serve longer than the ensuing summer, unless it should be absolutely necessary; for in his own strong language, he had then been four years and nine months without one moment's repose for body or mind.

A few months' intermission of labour he had obtained--not of rest, for it was purchased with the loss of a limb; and the greater part of the time had been a season of constant pain.

As soon as his shattered frame had sufficiently recovered for him to resume his duties, he was called to services of greater importance than any on which he had hitherto been employed, which brought with them commensurate fatigue and care.
The anxiety which he endured during his long pursuit of the enemy, was rather changed in its direction than abated by their defeat; and this constant wakefulness of thought, added to the effect of his wound, and the exertions from which it was not possible for one of so ardent and wide-reaching a mind to spare himself, nearly proved fatal.

On his way back to Italy he was seized with fever.