Battle of Aboukir.

favour of the British arms. L'Artemise frigate, stationed on the left of the centre of the French line, fired a broadside at the Theseus, and then struck her colours. Captain Miller despatched an officer to take possession of her, but when the boat had arrived within a short distance, she burst into a flame and blew up. This unofficer-like and treacherous conduct will reflect eternal disgrace on the name of Estandlet, who commanded her. After having surrendered his ship by striking her ensign and pendant, conscious that he was then secure from immediate danger, he set fire to her, and, with most of his crew, escaped to the shore.

At six o'clock, the Leander, having as yet received but little damage, was ordered by signal from the admiral to assist the ships engaged, which she accordingly obeyed. At this time the action between the three British ships, Alexander, Majestic, and Theseus, and the Guillaume Tell, Genereux, Tonnant, and Timoleon, had become very distant, as the latter continued imperceptibly to drop to leeward, and the Theseus was obliged to veer on two cables to keep within reach of them.

At eight A.M. the Goliath bore down and anchored near the Theseus, the French ships having broughtup again. The fire of the British was now chiefly turned against the Heureux and Mercure, which were soon obliged to surrender. The Timoleon was ashore, and the Tonnant was rendered a complete wreck. Under these circumstances, Rear-Admiral Villeneuve, in the Guillaume Tell, of 80 guns, perceiving that few, if any, of our ships were in a condition to make sail, resolved to lose, no time in escaping from the inevitable fate that would otherwise have awaited him. About eleven o'clock he cut his cable and got under weigh, and his example was followed by the Genereux, with the two frigates, La Justice and La Diane.

Battle of Aboukir.

Perceiving their intention, the British admiral by signal ordered the Zealous to intercept them. Unfortunately none of the windward ships was in a condition to second this attempt to stop the fugitives. Captain Hood did all that could be done; as they passed him he received and returned the fire of each in succession. The damage he sustained prevented him from tacking, and the admiral, with his usual judgment, gave the signal of recall.

The whole day of the 2d was employed by the British admiral, his officers, and men, in securing the ships that had struck, and in repairing the damages their own had sustained. Though this business was fully sufficient to occupy their attention, yet his mind was too deeply impressed with gratitude to the Supreme Being, for the success which had crowned his endeavours in the cause of his country, to delay returning public thanks for the divine favour. On the morning of the 2d, he therefore issued the following memorandum to the different captains of his squadron. "Almighty God having blessed his Majesty's arms with victory, the admiral intends returning public thanksgiving for the same at two o'clock this day, and he recommends every ship doing the same as soon as convenient." cordingly, at two o'clock, public service was performed on the quarter-deck of the Vanguard, by the Rev. Mr. Comyn, the other ships following the example of the admiral, though perhaps not all at the same time. This solemn act of gratitude to Heaven seemed to make a deep impression on many of the prisoners, and some of them even remarked, "that it was no wonder the English officers could maintain such discipline and order, when it was possible to impress the minds of their men with such sentiments, after a victory so great, and at a moment of such seeming confusion."

Ac

Battle of Aboukir.

The same day, the following memorandum, expressive of the admiral's sentiments of the noble exertions of the different officers and men of his squadron, was sent round to all the ships :-" The admiral most heartily congratulates the captains, officers, seamen, and marines of the squadron he has the honour to command, on the event of the late action; and he desires they will accept his most sincere and cordial thanks for their very gallant behaviour in this glorious battle. It must strike forcibly every British seaman, how superior their conduct is, when in discipline and good order, to the riotous behaviour of lawless Frenchmen. The squadron may be assured the admiral will not fail, with his despatches, to represent their truly meritorious conduct in the strongest terms to the commander-in-chief."

It was not till morning that the Culloden could be got off from her disagreeable situation, and it was found that she had suffered considerable damage in her bottom; the rudder was beaten off, and the crew could scarcely keep her afloat with all pumps going. The resources of Captain Troubridge's mind were admirably exerted on this trying occasion: in four days he had a new rudder made on his own deck, which was immediately shipped, and the Culloden, though still very leaky, was fit for actual service.

In the morning of the 3d of August, there remained in the bay only the Timoleon and Tonnant of the French line that were not taken or destroyed. As these vessels were both dismasted, and consequently could not escape, they were naturally the last of which the conquerors thought of taking possession. The former being aground near the coast, the captain and his crew escaped in their boats, after setting her on fire, and in a short time she blew up. A flag of truce had been sent to the Tonnant; but she refused to submit; on the Theseus going down

Battle of Aboukir.

to her, followed by the Swiftsure, she struck without Her cable had been cut, and she

further resistance.

had drifted on shore;

but, by the activity of Captain Miller, she was soon got off again, and secured in the British line. This completed the conquest of the French fleet in the bay of Aboukir.

The admiral, knowing that the wounded of his own ships had been taken care of, with his usual humanity made those of the enemy one of the first objects of his attention. He established a truce with the commandant of Aboukir, and through him intimated to the governor of Alexandria, that it was his intention to allow all the wounded Frenchmen to be taken ashore and attended by their own surgeons. This proposal was readily acceded to, and was carried into effect on the following day.

From the official despatches of the admiral the annexed statement of the English and French line of battle is extracted:*

N.B. The figures prefixed denote the situation of each ship

in the annexed plan.

* There is a grand painting of this battle, by G. Arnold, in the Painted Hall, Greenwich.