The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, Volume 1

Chapter IX: Part 9

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To the above anonymous French account, may be added that of the celebrated scientific traveller, soldier, and artist, Monsieur Denon; who was one of the chief Sçavans in the Egyptian expedition, and an anxious spectator of the interesting scene. It is to be remarked that, though his description of the battle, like that by which it is preceded, has less want of candour than is commonly found in French narratives of this nature, neither of them is altogether free from the characteristic partiality of that boastful nation. Both of them fail to state the true number of British ships; but, as frequently happens with those who are not remarkably tenacious of truth, though both make the number greater than it actually was, they do not agree with each other any more than with the fact, and thus mutually aid to produce a conviction of their own want of veracity. Our true force was fifteen sail only.

Denon, in order to gain an accurate view of the expected engagement, hastened to a lofty tower--

"When," says he, "we had reached the tower which commands the
monastery, we descried a fleet of twenty sail. To come up, to range
themselves in a line, and to attack, were the operations of a
minute. The first shot was fired at five o'clock; and, shortly
after, our view of the two fleets was intercepted by the smoke.
When night came on, we could distinguish somewhat better; without,
however, being able to give an account of what passed. The danger
to which we were exposed, of falling into the hands of the smallest
troop of Bedouins which might come that way, did not draw our
attention from an event by which we were so strongly interested.
Rolls of fire, incessantly gushing from the mouths of the cannon,
evinced clearly that the combat was dreadful, and supported with an
equal obstinacy on both sides. On our return to Rosetta, we climbed
on the roofs of the houses; whence, at ten o'clock, we perceived a
strong light, which indicated a fire. A few minutes afterwards, we
heard a terrible explosion, which was followed by a profound
silence. As we had seen a firing kept up, from the left to the
right, on the object in flames, we drew a conclusion that it was
one of the enemy's ships, which had been set fire to by our people;
and we imputed the silence which ensued, to the retreat of the
English: who, as our ships were moored, were exclusively in
possession of the range of the bay; and who, consequently, could
persevere in or discontinue the combat, at pleasure. At eleven
o'clock, a slow fire was kept up; and, at midnight, the action
again became general. It continued till two in the morning. At
day-break, I was at the advanced posts; and, ten minutes after, the
fleets were once more engaged. At nine o'clock, another ship blew
up. At ten, four ships, the only ones which were not disabled, and
which I could distinguish to be French, crouded their sails, and
quitted the field of battle; in the possession of which they
appeared to be, as they were neither attacked nor followed. Such
was the phantom produced by the enthusiasm of hope!

"I took my station at the tower of Abumandur; whence I counted
twenty-five vessels, half of which were shattered wrecks; and the
others incapable of manoeuvring to afford them assistance.

"For three days, we remained in this state of cruel uncertainty. By
the help of my spying-glass, I had made a drawing of this
disastrous scene; that I might be enabled the better to ascertain,
whether the morrow would be productive of any change.

"In this way we cherished illusion, and spurned at all evidence;
till, at length, the passage across the bar being cut off; and the
communication with Alexandria intercepted, we found that our
situation was altered; and that, separated from the mother-country,
we were become the inhabitants of a distant colony, where we should
be obliged to depend on our own resources for subsistence, till the
peace. We learned, that it was L'Orient which blew up at ten
o'clock at night, and L'Hercule the following morning; and that the
captains of the ships of the line, Le Guillaume Tell and
Genereux--and of the frigates, La Diane and La Justice--perceiving
that the rest of the fleet had fallen into the enemy's hands, had
taken advantage of a moment of lassitude and inaction on the part
of the English, to effect their escape. We learned, lastly, that
the 1st of August had broken the unity of our forces; and that the
destruction of our fleet, by which the lustre of our glory was
tarnished, had restored to the enemy the empire of the
Mediterranean: an empire which had been wrested from them by the
matchless exploits of our armies, and which could only have been
secured to us by the existence of our ships of war.

"The shore, to the extent of four leagues, was covered by wrecks,
which enabled us to form an estimate of the loss that we had
sustained at the battle of Aboukir. To procure a few nails, or a
few iron hoops, the wandering Arabs were employed in burning on the
beach the masts, gun-cariages, boats, &c. which had been
constructed at so vast an expence in our ports."

In both these accounts it is sufficiently manifest, that the French were fully convinced there could be no possibility of denying their defeat, however they might seek to disguise the extent of their disaster. The grand designation of their expensive and numerous armament was thus, at a single blow, completely frustrated: and, instead of finding themselves, flushed with success, in a treacherously subjugated country, with a view of extending their conquest to India; they became, at once, reduced to depend on their own resources for even their subsistence, in a distant land, without any other hope of ever returning home, than what was afforded them by the remote prospect of a peace.

Though Admiral Nelson had written his dispatches for the commander in chief immediately after this glorious victory, he was unable to send Captain Berry, of the Vanguard, in the Leander of fifty guns, to the Earl of St. Vincent, off Cadiz, till the 5th of August.

In a few days after, as if the admiral had foreseen the fate of the Leander, which it will appear he certainly apprehended, he prepared a copy of these dispatches to the Earl of St. Vincent; and transmitted it to Evan Nepean, Esq. Secretary to the Admiralty, by the Honourable Captain Thomas Bladen Capel, in La Mutine brig, to which he had just been appointed on Captain Hardy's promotion to the Vanguard. In these will be seen his own modest and pious account of a victory, perhaps, without parallel, when duly considered in it's completeness and consequences.

"Vanguard,
Mouth of the Nile, 7th August 1798.

"SIR,

"Herewith, I have the honour to transmit you a copy of my letter to
the Earl of St. Vincent, together with a line of battle of the
English and French squadrons; also, a list of the killed and
wounded. I have the honour to inform you, that eight of our ships
have already top-gallant yards across, and are ready for any
service: the others, with the prizes, will soon be ready for sea.
In an event of this importance, I have thought it right to send
Captain Capel, with a copy of my letter to the commander in chief,
overland; which, I hope, their lordships will approve: and I beg
leave to refer them to Captain Capel, who is a most excellent
officer, and fully able to give every information; and I beg leave
to recommend him to their lordships notice.

"I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servant,

"Horatio Nelson.

"P.S. The island I have taken possession of; and brought off the
two thirteen-inch mortars, with all the brass guns, and destroyed
the iron ones."

"Evan Nepean, Esq."

His celebrated letter to the Earl of St. Vincent was in the following words--

"Vanguard,
off the Mouth of the Nile,
3d August 1798.

"MY LORD,

"Almighty God has blessed his majesty's arms, in the late battle,
by a great victory over the fleet of the enemy; whom I attacked, at
sun-set on the 1st of August, off the mouth of the Nile. The enemy
were moored in a strong line of battle, for defending the entrance
of this bay (of shoals;) flanked by numerous gun-boats, four
frigates, and a battery of guns and mortars on an island in their
van: but nothing could withstand the squadron your lordship did me
the honour to place under my command. Their high state of
discipline is well known to you; and, with the judgment of the
captains, together with their valour, and that of the officers and
men of every description, it was absolutely irresistible. Could any
thing from my pen add to the characters of the captains, I would
write it with pleasure; but, that is impossible. I have to regret
the loss of Captain Westcott, of the Majestic, who was killed early
in the action; but the ship was continued to be so well fought by
her first-lieutenant, Mr. Cuthbert, that I have given him an order
to command her till your lordship's pleasure is known. The ships of
the enemy, all but their two rear ships, are nearly dismasted; and
these two, with two frigates, I am sorry to say, made their escape:
nor was it, I assure you, in my power to prevent them. Captain
Hood most handsomely endeavoured to do it; but I had no ship in a
condition to support the Zealous, and I was obliged to call her in.
The support and assistance I have received from Captain Berry
cannot be sufficiently expressed. I was wounded in the head, and
obliged to be carried off the deck; but, the service suffered no
loss by that event. Captain Berry was fully equal to the important
service then going on; and, to him, I must beg leave to refer you,
for every information relative to this victory. He will present you
with the flag of the second in command, that of the commander in
chief being burnt in L'Orient. Herewith, I transmit you lists of
the killed and wounded; and, the lines of battle of ourselves and
the French.

"I have the honour to be, my lord, your lordship's most obedient
servant,

"Horatio Nelson."

"To Admiral the Earl of St. Vincent, Commander in Chief, &c. off
Cadiz."

BRITISH LINE OF BATTLE.

Ships. Captains. Guns. Men.
1. Culloden Thomas Troubridge 74 590
2. Theseus Ralph Willet Miller 74 590
3. Alexander Alexander John Ball 74 590
4. Vanguard {Rear-Adm. Sir H. Nelson, K.B.}
{Edward Berry } 74 595
5. Minotaur Thomas Louis 74 640
6. Leander Thomas Boulden Thompson 50 343
7. Swiftsure Benjamin Hallowell 74 590
8. Audacious Davidge Gould 74 590
9. Defence John Peyton 74 590
10. Zealous Samuel Hood 74 590
11. Orion Sir James Saumarez 74 590
12. Goliath Thomas Foley 74 590
13. Majestic George B. Westcott 74 590
14. Bellerophon Henry D'E. Darby 74 590

BRIG.

15. La Mutine Thomas Hardy

Horatio Nelson.

Vanguard, off the Mouth of the Nile,
3d August 1798.

FRENCH LINE OF BATTLE.

How disposed
Ships. Commanders. Guns. Men. of.

1. Le Guerrier 74 700 Taken.
2. Le Conquerant 74 700 Taken.
3. Le Spartiate 74 700 Taken.
4. L'Aquilon 74 700 Taken.
5. Le Souverain Peuple 74 700 Taken.
6. Le Franklin {Blanquet, 1st Contre }
{ Admiral } 80 800 Taken.

7. L'Orient {Admiral Brueys, }
{Commander in Chief }120 1010 Burnt.
8. Le Tonnant 80 800 Taken.
9. L'Heureux 74 700 Taken.
10. Le Timoleon 74 700 Burnt.
11. Le Mercure 74 700 Taken.
12. Le Guillaume Tell {Villeneave, 2d Contre}
{ Admiral } 80 800 Escaped.
13. Le Genereux 74 300 Escaped.

FRIGATES.

14. La Diane 48 300 Escaped.
15. La Justice 44 300 Escaped.
16. L'Artemise 36 250 Burnt.
17. Le Serieuse 36 250 Dismasted
and sunk.

Horatio Nelson.

Vanguard, off the Mouth of the Nile,
3d August 1798.

No mention is made, in the above French List, of the numerous gun-boats employed by the enemy; while the Culloden, though not engaged, is preserved in the British Line of Battle.

_A Return of the Killed and Wounded in his Majesty's Ships under
the Command of Sir Horatio Nelson, K. B. Rear-Admiral of the Blue,
&c. in Action with the French Fleet, at Anchor, on the 1st of
August 1798, off the Mouth of the Nile._

+-------------++---------------++---------------++-------+
| || Killed || Wounded || T K W |
| |+---------------++---------------+| o i o |
| || O | S | M | T || O | S | M | T || t l u |
| || f | e | a | o || f | e | a | o || a l n |
| || f | a | r | t || f | a | r | t || l e d |
| || i | m | i | a || i | m | i | a || d e |
| || c | e | n | l || c | e | n | l || d |
| || e | n | e | || e | n | e | || a |
| || r | | r | || r | | r | || n |
|Ships Names. || s | | s | || s | | s | || d |
+-------------++---+---+---+---++---+---+---+---++-------+
|Theseus || | 5| | 5|| 1| 24| 5| 30|| 35 |
|Alexander || 1| 13| | 14|| 5| 48| 5| 58|| 72 |
|Vanguard || 3| 20| 7| 30|| 7| 60| 8| 75|| 105 |
|Minotaur || 2| 18| 3| 23|| 4| 54| 6| 64|| 87 |
|Swiftsure || | 7| | 7|| 1| 19| 2| 22|| 29 |
|Audacious || | 1| | 1|| 2| 31| 2| 35|| 36 |
|Defence || | 3| 1| 4|| | 9| 2| 11|| 15 |
|Zealous || | 1| | 1|| | 7| | 7|| 8 |
|Orion || 1| 11| 1| 13|| 5| 18| 6| 29|| 42 |
|Goliath || 2| 12| 7| 21|| 4| 28| 9| 41|| 62 |
|Majestic || 3| 33| 14| 50|| 3|124| 16|143|| 193 |
|Bellerophon || 4| 32| 13| 49|| 5|126| 17|148|| 197 |
|Leander || | | | || | 14| | 14|| 14 |
| |+---+---+---+---++---+---+---+---++-------+
| || 16|156| 46|218|| 37|562| 78|677|| 895 |
+-------------++---+---+---+---++---+---+---+---++-------+

OFFICERS KILLED

OFFICERS WOUNDED

Horatio Nelson.

It appears, from these lists, that sixteen officers, one hundred and fifty-six seamen, and forty-six marines, making in all two hundred and eighteen persons, lost their lives; and that thirty-seven officers, five hundred and sixty-two seamen, and seventy-eight marines, amounting to six hundred and seventy-seven persons, were wounded: forming a total, in killed and wounded, on board the British fleet, if the admiral be included, who has, as usual, omitted himself, of eight hundred and ninety-six. Such was the dreadful price paid by the conquerors for this glorious victory; to the vanquished, the loss was incalculable. On a moderate estimate, for the exact number has not been ascertained, there could scarcely be less than three thousand French killed and wounded in this most memorable conflict. Certain it is, that the Bay of Aboukir, for many days after the battle, was so covered with the floating bodies of the slain, as to exhibit a most horrid and painful spectacle; and, though all possible endeavours were exerted to keep sinking them whenever they appeared, the shot used for this intention so frequently slipped off, that many of the bodies perpetually rose again to the surface. Indeed, from the excessive heat of the weather, the survivors, besides the offensive disgusts naturally excited, felt very alarming apprehensions of some pestilential visitation; which, however, they happily escaped. The numerous prisoners, including all the wounded, were immediately restored, on condition of not serving against England till exchanged.

In the mean time, from parts of the floating wreck of L'Orient, the officers of the fleet vied with each other in causing numerous articles to be manufactured, as commemorations of this glorious victory, which they most affectionately presented to their respected commander. Captain Hallowell, in particular, with singular zeal and attachment, procured a coffin to be made, by his carpenter, on board the Swiftsure, entirely from the wreck of L'Orient, iron as well as wood, in the most elegant manner that the workman could effect with such limited materials, and so little skill in that particular branch of business; which was delivered to Admiral Nelson with the following letter.

Swiftsure,
August 1798.

"SIR,

"I Have taken the liberty of presenting you a coffin made from the
mainmast of L'Orient; that, when you have finished your military
career in this world, you may be buried in one of your trophies:
but, that that period may be far distant, is the earnest wish of
your sincere friend,

"Benjamin Hallowell."

The present of this worthy and brave officer, however singular, was received with an affectionate regard equal to that felt by himself. So highly, indeed, did the hero prize this gift, that he had it immediately placed upright in his cabin; and, though he was at length prevailed on, by the intreaties of an old and favourite servant, to have the coffin carried below, nothing could possibly prevent his resolution to have it finally made use of for the purpose originally intended by the gallant and esteemed donor.

While the various dispatches were preparing to be sent by Captain Capel to England, as soon as La Mutine could be got ready for sailing, those of Bonaparte to France were fortunately intercepted; as appears in the continuation of the following letter from Admiral Nelson to Sir William Hamilton.

"Vanguard,
Mouth of the Nile,
8th August 1798.

"MY DEAR SIR,

"Almighty God has made me the happy instrument of destroying the
enemy's fleet; which, I hope, will be a blessing to Europe. You
will have the goodness to communicate this happy event to all the
courts in Italy; for my head is so indifferent, that I can scarcely
scrawl this letter. Captain Capel, who is charged with my
dispatches for England, will give you every information. Pray, put
him in the quickest mode of getting home. You will not send, by
post, any particulars of this action; as I should be sorry to have
any accounts get home before my dispatches. I hope there will be no
difficulty in our getting refitted at Naples. Culloden must be
instantly hove down, and Vanguard have all new masts and bowsprit.
Not more than four or five sail of the line will probably come to
Naples: the rest will go with the prizes to Gibraltar. As this army
never will return, I hope to hear the emperor has regained the
whole of Italy. With every good wish, believe me, dear Sir, your
most obliged, and affectionate,

"Horatio Nelson.

"9th August. I have intercepted all Bonaparte's dispatches going to
France. The army is in a scrape, and will not get out of it."

These intercepted dispatches were transmitted to Earl Spencer, as First Lord of the Admiralty, with the following letter.

"Mouth of the Nile,
9th August 1798,

"MY LORD,

"Were I to die this moment, _want of frigates_ would be found
stamped on my heart. No words of mine, can express what I have
suffered, and am suffering, for want of them. Having only La Mutine
brig, I cannot yet send off Captain Capel, which I am very anxious
to do: for, as an accident may happen to Captain Berry, it is of
some importance, I think, for your lordship to be informed of our
success as speedily as possible. If the King of Naples had joined
us, nothing at this moment could prevent the destruction of the
store ships, and all the transports, in the port of Alexandria;
four bomb vessels would burn the whole in a few hours: but, as I
have not the means, I can only regret the circumstance. I send you
a pacquet of intercepted letters, some of them of great importance;
in particular, one from Bonaparte to his brother. He writes such a
scrawl, as no one not used to it can read: but, luckily, we have
got a man who has wrote in his office to decypher it. Bonaparte has
differed with his generals here: and he did want--and, if I
understand his meaning, does want, and will strive to be, the
Washington of France. "_Ma mere_," is evidently meant for "_my
country_." But, I beg pardon: all this is, I have no doubt, well
known to administration. I believe, our victory will, in it's
consequences, destroy this army; at least, my endeavours shall not
be wanting. I shall remain here for some time. I have thought it
right to send an officer (by Alexandretta, Aleppo, and Bussorah)
over land, to India, with an account of what I have gathered from
these dispatches; which, I hope, will be approved. I have sent a
copy of my letter to the Board of Controul, that they may give the
necessary directions for paying the officers bills. If it should
have gone to the East India Company, I hope that board will forward
it. Ever believe me, your lordship's most obliged and obedient
servant,

"Horatio Nelson."

The letter thus mentioned, as being addressed to the Board of Controul, was written to the Right Honourable Henry Dundas, then President of that Board, the present celebrated Lord Melville, in these words--

"Vanguard,
Mouth of the Nile,
9th August 1798.

"SIR,

"As President of the Board of Controul for India, I have addressed
this letter to you: if I ought to have addressed it to the India
House, I request you will have the goodness to send it to the
Chairman of the Company; and, that you will excuse the trouble I
have given you. I have thought it right to send an officer,
Lieutenant Duval, who very handsomely offered his services, by
Alexandretta, Aleppo, and Bussorah, to Bombay, to give all the
accounts I know of the movements of the French army, and their
future intentions. Herewith, I send a copy of my letter; and of the
orders I have given him, to draw for money on the East India
Company, &c. If I have done wrong, I hope the bills will be paid,
and I will repay the company; for, as an Englishman, I shall be
proud that it has been in my power to be the means of putting our
settlements on their guard. Mr. Baldwin not having been for some
months at Alexandria, has been a great misfortune. I have the
honour to be, Sir, with the greatest respect, your most obedient
servant,

"Horatio Nelson."

With a hundred dollars, in cash, and letters of credit to his Britannic majesty's consuls, vice-consuls, and even British merchants, on his prescribed route, Lieutenant Duval was this day dispatched by Admiral Nelson, as bearer of the following letter to his Excellency the Governor of Bombay.

"Vanguard,
off the Mouth of the Nile,
9th August 1798.

"SIR,

"Although, I hope, the consuls who are, or ought to be, in Egypt,
have sent you an express of the situation of affairs here; yet, as
I know Mr. Baldwin has, some months, left Alexandria; it is
possible you may not be regularly informed. I shall therefore
relate to you, briefly, that a French army of forty thousand men,
in three hundred transports, with thirteen sail of the line, eleven
frigates, bomb vessels, gun-boats, &c. arrived at Alexandria on the
1st of July. On the 7th they left it, for Cairo; where they arrived
on the 22d. During their march, they had some actions with the
Mamelukes, which the French call grand victories. As I have
Bonaparte's dispatches before me, which I took yesterday, I speak
positively. He says--"I am now going to send off, to take Suez and
Damietta." He does not speak very favourable of either the country
or people; but there is so much bombast in his letters, that it is
difficult to get near the truth. He does not mention India, in
these dispatches. He is what he calls organizing the country: but,
you may be assured, is master only of what his army covers. From
all the enquiries which I have been able to make, I cannot learn
that any French vessels are at Suez, to carry any part of the army
to India. Bombay, I know, if they can get there, is their first
object. But, I trust, Almighty God will, in Egypt, overthrow these
pests of the human race. It has been in my power to prevent twelve
thousand men from leaving Genoa; and, also, to take eleven sail of
the line, and two frigates: in short, only two sail of the line,
and two frigates, have escaped us. This glorious battle was fought
at the mouth of the Nile, at anchor. It begun at sun-set, August
1st, and was not finished at three the next morning. It has been
severe, but God blessed our endeavours with a great victory. I am
now at anchor between Alexandria and Rosetta, to prevent their
communication by water; and nothing, under a regiment, can pass by
land. But, I should have informed you that the French have four
thousand men posted at Rosetta, to keep open the mouth of the Nile.
Alexandria, both town and shipping, are so distressed for
provisions, which they can only get from the Nile, by water, that I
cannot guess the good success which may attend my holding our
present position; for Bonaparte writes his distress for stores,
artillery, things for their hospitals, &c. All useful communication
is at an end, between Alexandria and Cairo. You may be assured, I
shall remain here as long as possible. Bonaparte had never yet to
contend with an English officer, and I shall endeavour to make him
respect us. This is all I have to communicate. I am confident,
every precaution will be taken to prevent, in future, any vessels
going to Suez, which may be able to carry troops to India. If my
letter is not so correct as might be expected, I trust for your
excuse; when I tell you, that my brain is so shook with the wound
in my head, that I am sensible I am not always so clear as could
be wished: But, while a ray of reason remains, my heart and my hand
shall ever be exerted for the benefit of our king and country. I
have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

"Horatio Nelson.

"The officer, Lieutenant Duval, who carries this dispatch
voluntarily to you, will--I trust--be immediately sent to England,
with such recommendations as his conduct will deserve."

The importance of thus sending this information to India, which few other naval commanders would have thought necessary, proved prodigiously great. Expensive preparations were at that moment making, by the East India Company, for a most powerful armament to oppose any force which the French might be enabled to send against their possessions, in conjunction with Tippoo Saib: and this timely intelligence, by instantly quieting every apprehension of that sort, suddenly arrested the progress of all extraordinary warlike operations, and consequently saved a vast sum of money to the company; which, without the wonderful circumspection of this great man, must necessarily have been expended.

The dispatches to England, however, were unable to be forwarded, for several days. In the mean time, on the morning of the 11th, the Swiftsure brought into the fleet a captured French corvette of eighteen guns, and seventy men, called La Fortune. On the 12th, Sir James Saumarez, captain of the Orion, was directed to take the Bellerophon, Minotaur, Defence, Audacious, Theseus, and Majestic, under his command; and proceed with the prizes, Le Souverain Peuple, Conquerant, Spartiate, Aquilon, Franklin, and Tonnant, for Gibraltar: where, if he found no orders, he was to join the commander in chief off Cadiz, or go to Lisbon. Sir James sailed, accordingly, on the 15th; and Admiral Nelson having, on this very day, received secret orders and letters from the Earl of St. Vincent, found it requisite to destroy the other French prizes. The necessity of this measure is explained in the following letter of the succeeding day, addressed to Evan Nepean, Esq. for the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.

"SIR,

"Six of the prizes sailed yesterday, under Sir James Saumarez.
Three others, viz. Guerrier, Heureux, and Mercure, are in the act
of repairing. In this state, I last evening received the Earl of
St. Vincent's most secret orders, and most secret and confidential
letters, relative to the important operations intended to be
pursued in the Mediterranean. Thus situated, it became an important
part of my duty, to do justice between my king and country, and the
brave officers and men who captured those ships at the Battle of
the Nile. It would have taken one month, at least, to have fitted
those ships for a passage to Gibraltar; and not only at a great
expence to government, but with the loss of the services of at
least two sail of the line. I, therefore, confiding that the lords
commissioners will, under the present circumstances, direct that a
fair value shall be paid for these ships, ordered them to be burnt,
after saving such stores as would not take too much time out of
them: and, I have farther thought it my duty to tell the squadron
the necessity I am under, for the benefit of the king's service, of
directing their property to be destroyed; but, that I had no doubt
government would make them a liberal allowance. All which, I hope,
their lordships will approve.

"I have the honour to be, Sir, with great respect, your most
obedient servant,

"Horatio Nelson."

La Mutine being at length ready, these letters were dispatched to England, by the way of Naples, on the 16th of August.

The sword of the captured French Admiral Blanquet was also sent, by Captain Capel, from Admiral Nelson to the city of London, with the following letter, which he had several days previously written for the lord-mayor.

"Vanguard,
Mouth of the Nile,
8th August 1798.

"MY LORD,

"Having the honour of being a freeman of the city of London, I take
the liberty of sending to your lordship the sword of the
commanding French admiral, Monsieur Blanquet, who survived after
the battle of the 1st, off the Nile; and request that the city of
London will honour me by the acceptance of it, as a remembrance
that Britannia still rules the waves: which, that she may for ever
do, is the fervent prayer of your lordship's most obedient servant,

"Horatio Nelson."

"Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London."

On the 13th, the Alcmene, Emerald, and Bonne Citoyenne frigates, at length, joined the squadron; and, on the 17th, the Seahorse.

Admiral Nelson now arranged every thing necessary with Captain Samuel Hood, who was to remain with his own ship, the Zealous; the Swiftsure, Captain Hallowell; the Goliah, Captain Foley; the Alcmene, Captain Hope; the Seahorse, Captain Edward James Foote; and the Emerald, Captain Waller: for the purpose of cruising off Alexandria, or continuing at anchor, as he might judge most proper, more effectually to prevent any supplies being thrown into that port for the French fleet; and, also, to intercept an expected French convoy with provisions, as well as to prevent, if possible, all communication between the French army at Rosetta, and their fleet at Alexandria. This business being settled, he sailed, on the 18th, from Alexandria; and having, on that day, received a letter from the Honourable William Windham, the British minister at the court of Florence, he wrote the following answer, dated on board the Vanguard, 21st August 1798, which presents some additional information respecting the glorious victory off the Nile, and it's beneficial effects.

"My Dear Sir,

"I received, three days ago, your letter of June 20th, and I beg
leave to thank you for it. I send you a paper, which will inform
you of the extent of our victory. My health, from my wound, is
become so indifferent, that I think of going down the Mediterranean
as soon as I arrive at Naples; unless I should find any thing very
extraordinary to detain me, when my health is of no consequence.
The command, in my absence, will devolve on Captain Troubridge;
than whom, the king has not a better sea-officer. Sir James
Saumarez is on his way to Gibraltar, with six of our prizes: the
others I burnt, that the Mediterranean might not be left without
ships; for each prize takes a ship of the line to man her, and
attend to her wants. This you will believe, when I tell you that
only two masts are standing, out of nine sail of the line. L'Orient
certainly struck her colours, and did not fire a shot, for a
quarter of an hour before, unfortunately for us, she took fire:
but, though we suffer, our country is equally benefitted. She had
on board nearly six hundred thousand pounds sterling: so says the
adjutant-general of the fleet, who was saved out of her; and,
although he does not say she struck her colours, yet he allows that
all resistance on her part was in vain. Admiral Brueys was killed
early in the battle; and, from the commencement of the fight,
declared all was lost. They were moored in a strong position, in a
line of battle, with gun-boats, bomb-vessels, frigates, and a gun
and mortar battery on an island in their van; but, my band of
friends was irresistible. The French army is in possession of
Alexandria, Aboukir, Rosetta, Damietta, and Cairo; and Bonaparte
writes, that he is sending a detachment to take possession of Suez
and Fayume. By the intercepted letters from the army, for we took
the vessel with Bonaparte's courier, they are grievously
disappointed, the country between their posts being completely
hostile. I have little doubt but that army will be destroyed, by
plague, pestilence, and famine, and battle and murder; which, that
it may soon be, God grant. The Turks will soon send an army into
Syria; and as, for the present, we block them up by sea, they must
soon experience great distress. I hope to find, on my arrival at
Naples, that the emperor, and many other powers, are at war with
the French; for, till they are reduced, there can be no peace in
this world."

This letter appears to have remained unfinished, for want, probably, of an opportunity of sending it away, about three weeks. It then received the following conclusion.

"September 7th. I feel myself so much recovered, that it is
probable I shall not go home at present. The Turks have seized all
French ships in the Levant, in consequence of their taking a
Turkish sixty-gun ship at Alexandria, and seizing all Turkish
property. This was done on the 14th of August. I shall always
receive pleasure in hearing from you, both as a public and private
man; and believe me, dear Sir, with the greatest respect, your most
obedient servant,

"Horatio Nelson."

In the mean time, Admiral Nelson had written the following letter to Francis J. Jackson, Esq. his Britannic majesty's minister to the Ottoman Porte, dated on board the Vanguard, off the Isle of Rhodes, 27th August 1798.

"Sir,

"I have the honour to acquaint you, that I attacked the French
fleet off the Mouth of the Nile, on the 1st inst. the result of
which you will see by the inclosed paper; and that, on the 14th,
the French took possession of the Turkish admiral's ship at
Alexandria, hauled down her colours, and hoisted French colours,
and seized on all the Turkish property on shore. The French are in
possession of Alexandria, Aboukir, Rosetta, and Damietta, on the
coast, and of Grand Cairo: but all communication is cut off between
their army and their transports at Alexandria, by sea, by an
English squadron of three ships of the line and four frigates,
which I have left cruising there; and, by land, by the Bedouins. So
that, if the Grand Signior will but send a few ships of the line,
and some bombs, he may destroy all their transports in Alexandria;
and an army of ten thousand men may retake Alexandria immediately,
as the French have only four thousand men in it, and the whole
French army are very sickly.

"I have been informed, that the French have put to death two
hundred Turks at Alexandria, for rejoicing at our victory; and that
General Bonaparte only wants a communication opened by sea, to
march into Syria, that the transports with stores, &c. for the army
may go along shore with him.

"I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servant,

"Horatio Nelson."

The inclosed papers, mentioned in this and the preceding letter, were lists of the forces of the English and French fleets at the battle off the Nile shewing which were taken, burnt, &c. and copies of this last letter were sent to the Earl of St. Vincent and Earl Spencer.

On the 8th of September, at sea, he addressed a letter to the Marquis De Niza, commander of the Portuguese squadron; regretting that they had not joined him prior to the 1st of August, when not a single French ship could have escaped: but, as he observes, that being without remedy, it is necessary to look forward to the next important service for the common cause; which, in his opinion, is that of preventing the French from getting any supplies of stores, by water, from Alexandria. He concludes with observing, that the Grand Signior will, he hopes, not only send an army into Syria; but also send ships of war, with bomb-vessels, gallies, &c. in order to destroy all the vessels in Alexandria: and concludes with inviting his excellency to be a partaker in these joyful events.

In a very few days, however, he learned that the Marquis De Niza had returned from Alexandria; and he now, with equal address, sent him to Malta.

On the 14th, by La Mutine, he dispatched letters to the Earl of St. Vincent, in which he expresses his fear that it will be thought wrong, not to have returned any of the "numerous frigates, brigs, cutters, &c. which had been sent to Egypt "It was," says he, "only on the 13th of August, that the Alcmene, Emerald, and Bonne Citoyenne, joined me. On the 17th, the Seahorse joined; and, till September 7, I neither saw nor heard of any. The Earl of St. Vincent cutter then joined me, forty leagues from Messina; where I was informed that the Portuguese squadron, with the Lion and Terpsichore, had passed the Pharos, the 28th of August, on their way to Egypt. I therefore sent the cutter with a letter to the Marquis De Niza, and to Captain Hood." He then proceeds to state, that the Thalia had just brought him accounts from Captain Hood, which he sends; and considers the exertions of the officers as great, and highly to be approved. He thinks that the two men who saved the dispatches ought to have a pecuniary reward. "You will see," he adds, "by my second letter to the Marquis De Niza, that I have requested him to go off Malta, which may be the means of driving the French out of that island." After expressing his confidence that, with a little exertion, the French army in Egypt will fall a prey to plague, pestilence, famine, and Mamelukes, he concludes with praying that the earl will give him credit for his earnest endeavours to do what is right.

This day, the hero of the Nile received a letter from General Sir John Acton, transmitting the congratulations of the King and Queen of Naples; to which he returned the following most elegant epistolary acknowledgment, by the Culloden.

"Vanguard,
at Sea,
15th September 1798.

"SIR,

I was yesterday honoured with your excellency's very handsome and
flattering letter of the 9th, conveying to me their Sicilian
Majesties congratulations on the victory obtained by my royal
master's fleet over the enemy. I have to request, that your
excellency will have the goodness to assure their majesties, that I
am penetrated with their condescension in noticing this battle;
which, I most fervently pray, may add security to their majesties
throne, and peace and happiness to all mankind. The hand of God was
visibly pressed upon the French; and, I hope, there is not a person
in the British fleet, who does not attribute this great victory to
the blessing of the Almighty on our exertions in a just cause. With
every sentiment of respect, believe, me, your excellency's most
obedient,

"Horatio Nelson."
"Sir John Acton, Bart."

On the 16th, being off Strombolo, he inclosed General Acton's letter, which contained some state secrets of importance, in a private letter to Earl Spencer. The Portuguese, he observes, having been got, with no small difficulty, from Naples, went to Egypt; where, however, they would neither stay, nor give our ships water, which was all Captain Hood requested. Having watched for them off Messina, he had now sent them to Malta; but hoped that his lordship would not build hope on their exertions. "The moment," says he, "I can get ships, all aid shall be given the Maltese. What would I give for four bomb-ships! all the French armament would long since have been destroyed. Pray, if the service will admit of it, let me have them: I will only say, I shall endeavour to make a proper use of them."

He complains, also, in this letter, of the uncertainty of our situation with regard to Genoa; which, he says, has been at war with us during the two past years. Even at this period of our hero's glory, he seems to have been suffering under what he considered as legal persecution; and animadverts, with much severity, on the conduct of the Judge of the Admiralty.

"He has cited me to appear before him," complains the indignant
hero, "and shew cause why I seized a Genoese ship; the accounts of
which I long ago sent to the board of Admiralty, for the sale of
her cargo, and which I have long wanted to be taken out of my
hands. The ship was liberated, when our troops evacuated Porto
Ferrajio. The seas are covered with Genoese ships; but the Judge of
the Admiralty's conduct has, to me, so repeatedly militated against
my duty in the service of my king and country, that I dare not do
my duty. I have already been half ruined by him; and condemned,
without knowing I was before him. The treasury, it is true, paid
part of the expence, but that does not make the judge's conduct
less grievous." In all this, there is much to regret; but the judge
could scarcely entertain the smallest personal prejudice against
our hero, though he might appear too favourable to the frauds of
neutral powers from even a laudable anxiety to prevent any national
embroilment. Nelson, on the spot, could better penetrate their
artifices, than the judge on his distant bench of justice; and,
fearing nothing, he spurned at every law subtlety which he
perceived sanctioning fraud, to the present injury of his king, his
country, and their brave defenders. It was, ever, far less for
himself, than for others, that he was solicitous. In this very
letter to Earl Spencer, he thus concludes--"I am looking,
anxiously, for the Foudroyant; and, also, for your lordship's
goodness to my son-in-law: I, of course, wish he had a good
frigate."

Three days after, in another letter to Earl Spencer, the benignity of his excellent heart pleads powerfully for a son of the late Captain Faddy. It's perusal cannot fail to gratify every feeling reader.

"Vanguard,
at Sea,
19th Sept. 1798.

"MY LORD,

"Captain Faddy, of the marines, who was killed on board the
Vanguard, has a family of small children: his eldest son is now on
board this ship, only fourteen years of age. I beg to solicit your
lordship for a commission in the marines for him. I understand, it
has been done; and the youth permitted to remain at school, till of
a proper age to join the corps. If, however, this should, in the
present instance, be thought wrong, may I request that his name may
stand as an elevé of the Admiralty, and Mrs. Faddy acquainted of
it; which must give her some relief, under her present misfortune.

"Ever your lordship's most obedient servant,

"Horatio Nelson."

With his mind thus humanely and diligently employed, amidst the toil and bustle inseparable from an active naval commander, on the 22d, early in the morning, the hero approached within view of Naples. No sooner was the Vanguard perceived, at the distance of several leagues, than upwards of five hundred boats and pleasure-barges, having been apprised of his coming, by the previous arrival of the Culloden and Alexander, on the 16th, immediately went out to meet him; with bands of music in most of them, and joy depicted on every countenance. Sir William and Lady Hamilton, in their state-barge, accompanied by several of the Neapolitan nobility, led the way, and were consequently his first visitors. The transports of Sir William, and his amiable lady, at seeing their friend return covered with laurels, and of the thus honoured hero, at once more beholding his estimable friends, can only be conceived by minds of equal susceptibility. The interview, indeed, was exquisitely impressive, and even affecting, to all by whom it was witnessed. While the company were partaking of some refreshment in his cabin, a small bird familiarly perched on his shoulder. On the circumstance being remarked--"It is," said he, "a very singular thing; this bird came on board the day before the battle off the Nile: and I have had other instances of a bird's coming into my cabin previously to former engagements." This is the more remarkable, as the same thing is said to have afterwards happened prior to the battle of Copenhagen. In superstitious times, some inference would probably have been made from such facts; but philosophy will not warrant any other deduction, than that, as birds of passage frequently seek shelter in ships, these visits were merely accidental. The coincidence, however, is certainly somewhat curious.

In a short time, the King of Naples, and his suite, who had also come out full three leagues, in the royal barge, to greet the victorious British admiral, went on board the Vanguard; where the king affectionately embraced the Hero of the Nile; and, taking him by the hand, expressed the effusions of his gratitude in terms of the most flattering regard for our king, our country, and the immortal Nelson: whom the sovereign of the two Sicilies, his ministers, and all classes of his subjects, hailed with the appellation of "_Nostro Liberatore!_"--"Our Deliverer!"

The King of Naples, who prides himself on being a seaman, went all over the ship, and examined every thing with apparent delight and satisfaction. His Neapolitan majesty sailed with Admiral Nelson, for about three hours, on board the Vanguard; which was saluted, as they passed, by all the forts. As soon as the Vanguard anchored in the bay, the King of Naples returned on board his own barge, and Admiral Nelson accompanied Sir William and Lady Hamilton.

Immediately on landing, Sir William's open carriage conveyed the hero, in triumph, to the house of his esteemed friends, surrounded by the enraptured Neapolitans; who gave every possible proof of their joy, admiration, and gratitude. The Lazzaroni, in particular, crowded round him in multitudes: vast numbers of them bearing birds of different species, in curious wicker baskets; which they displayed to the hero as he passed, and then giving them their liberty, watched their flight with all the anxiety and assumed importance of the ancient Roman augury.

The Queen of Naples had also gone out, with her numerous family, in another barge; but had, unfortunately, been too late to greet the hero on board his victorious vessel, from which he had taken his departure previously to her arrival. Her majesty, however, after being rowed round the Vanguard, no sooner returned on shore, than she immediately addressed a letter to Lady Hamilton; requesting to see, as soon as possible, the Hero of the Nile. Sir William and Lady Hamilton, accordingly, accompanied him to the palace, in the afternoon, where he experienced a most gracious and flattering reception. On this visit, Lady Hamilton acted as interpreter between the queen and Admiral Nelson, neither of them understanding each other's language sufficiently to converse together. The queen constantly addressed him by the appellation of "Our virtuous and brave admiral."

Such, in short, was the universal transport at Naples, on this occasion, that general illuminations, with apt and ingenious devices, and one grand scene of unbounded festivity and rejoicing, were continued for three successive days.

The Queen of Naples, immediately after her interview with Admiral Nelson, addressed a letter to the Marquis De Circello, the Neapolitan Ambassador at the court of London, from which the following is said to be a correctly translated extract--

"I write to you with joy inexpressible! The brave and enterprising
British Admiral Nelson has obtained a most signal and decisive
victory. My heart would fain give wings to the courier who is the
bearer of these propitious tidings, to facilitate the earliest
acknowledgments of our gratitude. So extensive is this victory in
all it's relative circumstances, that were it not that the world
has been accustomed to see prodigies of glory atchieved by the
English on the seas, I should almost question the reality of the
event. It has produced, among us, a general spirit of enthusiasm.
It would have moved you much, to have seen my infant boys and girls
hanging round my neck in tears, expressing their joy at the happy
tidings, made doubly dear to us by the critical period at which
they arrived. This news of the defeat of Bonaparte's Egyptian fleet
has made many disaffected persons less daring, and improved the
prospect of the general good. Make my highest respects acceptable
to their majesties of England. Recommend the gallant hero, Nelson,
to his royal master. He has raised, in the Italians, an
enthusiastic reverence for the English nation. Great expectations
were naturally founded on his enterprising talents, but no one
could look for so total an overthrow of the enemy. All here are
frantic with excess of joy!"

In a letter, of the 25th of September, written to Earl Spencer, by Admiral Nelson, after slightly mentioning the reception with which he had thus been honoured, particularly by their Sicilian majesties, he makes use of these modest and pious expressions--"You will not, my lord, I trust, think that one spark of vanity induces me to mention the most distinguished reception that ever, I believe, fell to the lot of a human being; but, that it is a measure of justice due to his Sicilian majesty and the nation. God knows, my heart is amongst the most humble of the creation, full of thankfulness and gratitude."

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The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, Volume 1Chapter IX: Part 9

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