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 TO
ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B., COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.
Vanguard, off the Mouth of the Nile, 3rd 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, who I attacked at
sunset 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 the 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 anything from my pen add to
the character 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 those 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.
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