Down, down with the French! is my constant prayer." Odes, sonnets, and congratulatory poems of every description were poured in upon Nelson on his arrival at Naples.

An Irish Franciscan, who was one of the poets, not being content with panegyric upon this occasion, ventured on a flight of prophecy, and predicted that Lord Nelson would take Rome with his ships.

His lordship reminded Father M'Cormick that ships could not ascend the Tiber; but the father, who had probably forgotten this circumstance, met the objection with a bold front, and declared he saw that it would come to pass notwithstanding.

Rejoicings of this kind were of short duration.

The King of Naples was with the army which had entered Rome; but the castle of St.Angelo was held by the French, and 13,000 French were strongly posted in the Roman states at Castallana.