Page:Battles of the Nile and Alexandria.pdf/4

 with all possible dispatch. On the 1st of August the Pharos, a light house off Alexandria, was discovered by the British fleet, who were steering directly towards it, and, as they approached, discovered a wood of masts in the harbour. A nearer inspection, however, showed them, to their great mortification, that there was not a single ship of war amongst them; and that, therefore, they were not there whom they sought. But their disappointment was of short duration; in a short time afterwards, the Alexander and Leander, two of Nelson's ships, which were about two leagues ahead of the fleet, flung out the joyful signal that they had discovered ships of war to the castward. The straggling ships were instantly called in - the fleet was formed in compact order,-and, in a short time, the bay of Aboukir, filled with the ships of the enemy, opened on the gratified sight of the British squadron.

The French fleet, under der the command of Admiral Brueys, were moored in a strong and compact line of battle, stretching nearly across the bay, and consisted of 13 ships of the line, and 4 frigates, carrying 1196 guns, and 11,230 men. The English had the same number of ships of the line, and one 50 gun ship, carrying 1012 guns, and 8068 men. The English ships were all 74's. The French had three 80 gun ships, and one 3 decker of 120. This last was the L'Orient, the admiral's own ship. Nelson had no sooner obtained a sight of the position which the enemy had assumed, than he determined, with that promptitude of decision for which he was so remarkable, on the mode of attack. The enemy's ships, as we have already said, were anchored in a line across the bay, the Admiral's, the L'Orient, occupying the centre. Nelson immediately conceived the bold idea of