"You will easily conceive my feelings," said he in communicating this to Earl St.Vincent; "but my mind, as your lordship knows, was perfectly prepared for this order; and it is now, more than ever, made up.

At this moment I will not part with a single ship; as I cannot do that without drawing a hundred and twenty men from each ship, now at the siege of Capua.

I am fully aware of the act I have committed; but I am prepared for any fate which may await my disobedience.

Capua and Gaieta will soon fall; and the moment the scoundrels of French are out of this kingdom I shall send eight or nine ships of the line to Minorca.

I have done what I thought right--others may think differently; but it will be my consolation that I have gained a kingdom, seated a faithful ally of his Majesty firmly on his throne, and restored happiness to millions." At Capua, Troubridge had the same difficulties as at St.Elmo; and being farther from Naples, and from the fleet, was less able to overcome them.
The powder was so bad that he suspected treachery; and when he asked Nelson to spare him forty casks from the ships, he told him it would be necessary that some Englishmen should accompany it, or they would steal one-half, and change the other.