The British were now somewhat at a stand. At length a retrograde movement was resolved on, taking a more northerly course. On the 29th the fleet steered to the north-east, with a fresh breeze from north-north-west. In consequence of the continuance of north-westerly weather, it took the ships, under all the sail they could carry on a wind, until the 4th of July, ere they made the coast of Natolia. On the 5th the ships got scattered ; and, on the night of the 6th, the Orion parted company. This occasioned the fleet, on the following morning, to wear and stand to the northward ; a delay that was repaid by the junction, towards evening, of the missing ship. The fleet continued beating to windward till the 16th, when the weather turned favourable ; and, at 8 a.m. on the 18th, Cape Passero made its appearance. On the 19th the fleet, being much in want of water and provisions, stood towards Syracuse. The entrance to the harbour is intricate, and no person in the fleet had hitherto passed through it. Such, however, was the skill and attention of the officers, and the adroitness and discipline of the men, that at 30 h. 3 m. p.m. every ship had anchored in safety. Here we will leave the indefatigable British admiral and the congenial spirits around him, while we see what is become of the object of his and their solicitude.

After a stay of four days, Buonaparte, on the morning of the 19th of June, quitted Malta, having left General Vaubois as the governor, and 4000 troops as the garrison, of the island. Favoured by a fresh breeze at north-west, the expedition steered a direct course to the east, the advanced frigates detaining and destroying every vessel they fell in with, as the most effectual, if not the most legal, means of preventing the circulation of intelligence respecting the probable destination of the fleet. On the 30th the French came in view of Cape Durazzo in the island of Candia, and, crossing the gulf of that name, descried at daybreak on the 1st of July the Arab tower upon the African coast, and, in a few hours afterwards, the minarets of Alexandria.

A small vessel was immediately sent into the port to gain intelligence, and, in particular, to bring off the French consul, Citizen Magallon. On reaching the flag ship, the latter acquainted the commander-in-chief with Nelson's appearance off the coast three days before, the hostile disposition of the inhabitants, and the necessity he would be under, if he persisted in making himself master of the city, of employing force. That was General Buonaparte's intention; and the dread that Nelson might arrive, before the disembarkation could be effected, caused the utmost expedition to be used in getting the troops on shore. In her haste to get near to the creek of Mirabou, opposite to the castle of which name situated at the distance of about two leagues from the city the fleet cast anchor, the Orient ran foul of the Dubois and one of the frigates, and carried away her bowsprit : both the latter ships also sustained some damage.

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