text:  Look at that proud impregnable Castle of St Elmo culminating over all Naples! Look at those sea-washed fortresses which guard the entrance of her harbour! The garrisons of those strong places having in the year 1799 from the turn of public affairs judged it expedient to capitulate to Ferdinand and his allies on conditions which should leave their honour without blemish and assure their own safety and that of the city; and this capitulation having been solemnly accepted and ratified by _Cardinal Ruffo as the king's legate and plenipotentiary_ by the late _Sir Edward Foote_ as acting commodore of the British force and by the representatives of _two European governments_ officially residing in the revolutionized city and the surrender of the forts having accordingly taken place it came to pass in an evil hour that Lord Nelson entering the bay as commander-_in-chief_ took upon himself the odious responsibility of rescinding the British guarantee and of supporting Ferdinand powerless but through him in his refusal to hold himself bound by a convention made _by his own viceroy_!--thus delivering over the defenceless city to its own implacable sovereign