Mr.Elliot, our minister at Naples, seems at this time to have proposed to send a confidential Frenchman to him with information.

"I should be very happy," he replied, "to receive authentic intelligence of the destination of the French squadron, their route, and time of sailing.

Anything short of this is useless; and I assure your excellency, that I would not upon any consideration have a Frenchman in the fleet, except as a prisoner.

I put no confidence in them.

You think yours good; the queen thinks the same; I believe they are all alike.
Whatever information you can get me I shall be very thankful for; but not a Frenchman comes here.