Page:Battles of the Nile and Alexandria.pdf/6

 was the Orion, Sir J. Saumarez, who passing the Zealous, but, at the same instant, pouring into that ship's antagonist, the Guerrier, a murderous fire so long as her guns would bear upon her, anchored between the fifth and sixth ships from the last named vessel. Taking her station on the larboard, bow of the Franklin, au 80 gun ship, and the quarter of the Peuple Souverain, a 74, receiving and returning the fire of both. The Audacious, Captain Gould, next followed, pouring, as the others had done, a heavy fire into the shattered Guerrier as she passed. Close after her came the Thesus, Captain Miller, who, following the example of the Audacious, discharged a tremendous broadside, and brought down almost every remaining stick on board that ill fated ship. These ships, having each selected an antagonist, began a close and furious engagement.

While these advanced vessels doubled the French line, the Vanguard, Nelson's ship, was the first that, anchored on the outer side of the enemy, within half pistol-shot of their third ship, the Spartiate, a 74. Nelson had six colours flying in different parts of his rigging, lest they should be shot away. He instantly opened a tremendous fire, under cover of which the other four ships of his division, the Minotaur, Bellerophon, Defence, and Majestic, sailed ou a-head of the admiral. In a few minutes. every man stationed at the first six guns, in the forepart of the Vanguard's deck, was killed or wounded these guns were three times cleared. Captain Louis, in the Minotaur anchored next a-head, and took off the fire of the Aquilon, the fourth in the enemy's line. The Bellerophon, Captain Darby, passed a-head, and cropped her stern anchor on the starboard bow of the Orient, the 7th in the line, and whose difference of force,