others, induced the enemy to surrender; and an officer appeared on the walls with a white flag. The terms of capitulation were soon agreed on; and the French marched out and delivered up the castle to the British[1]. Commodore Troubridge next proceeded to Capua, accompanied by Captain Hallowell, and took the command of the motley force before that place; batteries of guns and mortars were erected, and on the 25th, opened their fire upon the enemy, who returned it with equal spirit; but from the rapid approach of the besiegers, whose trenches were advanced on the following day to within a few yards of the glacis, they were at length induced to capitulate; and on the 29th, the garrison marched out and grounded their arms[2]. Gaieta immediately afterwards surrendered to Captain Louis of the Minotaur; and the whole kingdom of Naples was thus delivered from the yoke of the French – an event principally brought about by British sailors.
The enemy, however, still occupied the Roman States; from which, according to their own admission, they had extorted, in jewels, plate, specie, and requisitions of every kind, to the enormous amount of 8,000,000l. sterling; yet they affected to appear as deliverers among the people whom they were thus cruelly plundering; and they distributed portraits of Buonaparte, with the blasphemous inscription – “This is the true likeness of the holy saviour of the world!” The people, detesting the impiety, and groaning beneath the exactions of these perfidious robbers, were ready to join any regular force that should come to their assistance; but they dreaded Cardinal Ruffo’s rabble[3], and declared they would
- ↑ The fort of St. Elmo is hewn out of a rock, towards the west of the city of Naples. Its subterraneous works are wide, lofty, and bomb-proof; and it has eight reservoirs for water. The harbour is spacious, with a canal and a mole nearly 500 paces in length; and, on the whole, it is a place of great strength.
- ↑ Capua is situated fifteen miles north of Naples.
- ↑ Cardinal Ruffo, a man of questionable character, but of a temper
great merit and abilities, advanced before the works, to encourage them by their example; being perceived by the enemy on the walls, a gun loaded with grape was levelled at them with such precision, as actually to cut the boughs and strike the ground between their legs, yet providentially not one of them was hurt.
