treaties, and removed them to the Military College of Naples.

The indications of any particular disposition or inclination, which so often manifest themselves in early youth, generally exercise a very great degree of influence upon the future fate and character of those who exhibit them, and this was peculiarly my

case.

The year 1797 had just begun when I reached the age of fourteen years. Had I chosen it, I might have pursued my studies successfully in the College of Catanzaro, but I did not, for my whole mind was filled with the most ardent and irresistible desire of entering upon a military career.

My brother Florestano, only five years older than myself, had just quitted the Military College with the rank of ensign in the Burgundian regiment of infantry, and my father had purchased for my elder brother a lieutenancy in a newly-formed corps of riflemen. The knowledge that two of my brothers were officers, added to the constant efforts made by the Government to inspire the nation with feelings of a military tendency, contributed to add fresh stimulus to my military ardour. Although at the period of which I speak, it was extremely easy to purchase a military commission, even for a boy of my years, my father, who had much at heart the literary education of his sons, had wisely determined that I should remain at Catanzaro until the attainment of my eighteenth

year.

Fully aware that nothing else would shake my father's determination on that point, I came to the childish resolution of flying from college, in the hope of thereby

forcing him to purchase me the commission I so ardently longed for. I accordingly succeeded in making my escape; but I was soon taken again, and was conducted by one of my own relations back to my father's house at Squillace.

As my eldest brother Stefano had married the daughter of the Baron Marcellinara, nephew of Sanseverino, governor of the college, the latter, out of respect for the family connexion which existed between us, consented to receive me back again into the Royal College. This mark of indulgence, however, did not, in the remotest degree alter my disposition towards a military life, and I soon devised another stratagem, which I thought could not fail to induce my father to consent to my wishes.

I managed to find out a sergeant recruiting for a regiment of riflemen, and earnestly demanded of him whether he would receive me as a volunteer. The man, hoping most likely to profit by my simplicity, replied in the affirmative. I accordingly escaped for the second time from college. Presenting myself before the sergeant, to be formally enlisted, I received from his hands a piece of fifty grains, as earnest-money. Just as he was about, however, to ratify our engagement by inscribing the description of my person in the register kept for that purpose, an order was put into his hands to bring me forthwith before the Brigadier Wispeare, then president of the province. The poor sergeant was immediately imprisoned, as guilty of enticing away a pupil of the Royal College, still under age, and I was sent back to my school and placed under close confinement. Some few days after, my father himself obtained my release, and sent me to Naples under the care of another of my brothers, Giovanni Batista, sixteen

years older than myself, and of mature judgment. About four years after the occurrence of these events, the very same sergeant presented himself to serve in a company belonging to the Republic of Tuscany, in which I was lieutenant. Three-and-twenty years later still, the son of Brigadier Wispeare, then holding the rank of colonel, became the chief officer of my staff, when I was commander-in-chief of the army of the Two Sicilies.

Whilst I was awaiting the privilege of admission into the Royal Military College, I resumed the course of my studies. My brother Giovanni Batista being upon terms of the most intimate friendship with Pietro Colletta, then only a lieutenant in the artillery, (although many years later he rose to the rank of General,) the latter, to please my brother, questioned me in the elements of mathematics, to ascertain whether I was capable of passing the examination to be undergone before I could be admitted into the college.

This event took place, to my infinite delight, towards the latter end of the year 1797. I congratulated myself on my good fortune, at the same time that I approved of my father's wisdom in having placed me in a situation wherein, by my own exertions, I could acquire the military rank I so ardently desired, instead of purchasing a commission.

When I was presented to the director of the college, he began forthwith to admonish me ex officio. He told me that, as my brother Florestano upon quitting the school had left a very bad reputation behind him, it became incumbent upon me, by the regularity of my proceedings to efface the recollection of his misconduct. From other and better sources of informa

tion, I acquired the knowledge that Florestano's errors had been restricted to too much elegance in his attire, and a too expensive taste for youthful pleasures and amusements. Such errors, even at this day, seem to me excusable enough in a youth, and ought to have been looked upon with leniency in consideration of his incessant and persevering pursuit of knowledge, and of the rapid progress which he made in all the studies of the college.

CHAPTER II.

1798.

Minority of Ferdinand IV.-He marries Caroline of Austria-Fall ofthe Minister Tanucci-Acton is called into the kingdom by the Prince Caramanico-Acton succeeds the Marquis Caracciolo in the foreign affairs-The administration of Acton-He calls foreign officers into the kingdom-The French fleet of Admiral La Touche threatens Naples-Origin in the two Sicilies of the Freemasons-The Queen joins them, and protects themThey are afterwards persecuted by the Queen and Acton-First blood of the patriots shed on the scaffold-The prisons of the kingdom full of patriots of great name-Neapolitan cavalry assist the Austrians in Lombardy-Means employed by the Court to amass money-The prisons of the patriots are opened.

I INTEND, in the course of the present chapter, to give a summary account of the occurrences which took place in the kingdom of Naples towards the close of the last century, that I may throw more light upon the circumstances which occurred at the outset of my political career. During the short reign of Charles III., as well as during the minority of Ferdinand IV., our country, for the first time during more than two centuries, had experienced the blessings of peace. It was to the able administration of the wise and virtuous statesman, Bernardo Tanucci, that the kingdom of Naples was indebted for this benefit; and to his