In September, Captain Thomas Hardy took command, still under Nelson's flag. Two months later a formidable French army had invaded Naples and on 16 December "Vanguard" was shifted out of gunshot of the ports. On 20 December Nelson, in order to evacuate the royal family and other important people, ordered the small barge of "Vanguard", covered by three barges and the frigate , armed with cutlasses only, to be at the Victoria wharf. All the other boats of "Vanguard" and "Alcmene", and the launches and carronades, were ordered to assemble on board "Vanguard" under the direction of Captain Hardy and row halfway to the Mola Figlio.