1798 - Battle of the Nile


 
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Naval History of Great Britain - Vol II
1798 Battle of the Nile 163

had no chart of the bay ; but that he would bear up, and, by sounding carefully, carry the admiral as close to the shoal as could be done with safety. * This was agreed to ; and the Zealous, then with the wind on the larboard quarter, bore away, and, rounding the shoal, brought the wind on her starboard beam. At this time the Goliath was a little advanced on her larboard bow. Shortly afterwards the Vanguard, who was next astern of the Zealous, hove to to speak a boat. This occasioned some of the other ships to shorten sail ; and it was now that the Theseus was hailed by Captain Berry, and directed to be the admiral's second ahead. The Theseus accordingly ran past the Vanguard, and brought to in her station.

At about 6 p.m. the admiral made the signal for the fleet to fill and stand on. The ships did so, and were then ranged in the following order: Goliath, Zealous, Orion, Audacious, Theseus, Vanguard, Minotaur, Defence, Bellerophon, Majestic, Leander ; with, away at some distance to the northward, the Culloden, and, at a still greater distance to the westward, the Alexander and Swiftsure, using every exertion to get up. The wind still continued to blow from the north-north-west : hence the 11 ships standing in line had it on the starboard beam, the Culloden nearly astern, and the Alexander and Swiftsure, until it changed and headed them, nearly on the larboard beam. The rapidity and precision with which the above 11 ships formed the line, elicited the admiration of the French ; the more so on account of the "péle-mêle" state in which the ships had previously bore down. Soon after the British ships had thus formed, they hoisted their colours, and subsequently union jacks in several parts of the rigging.

At about 6 h. 20 m. p.m. the French ships hoisted their colours ; and the Conquérant, followed by the Guerrier, opened her fire upon the Goliath and Zealous, then in line close to each other, and at some distance ahead of their companions. The mortars on the island also began throwing shells, but without effect. At about 5 h. 30 m. p.m. the Goliath, who, in order to keep ahead of the Zealous, had been obliged, after taking in her topgallantsails, to set them again, crossed the head of the French line, and, pouring a raking broadside into the Guerrier, bore up for that ship's inner bow, where Captain Foley intended to take his station ; but, the anchor not dropping in time, the Goliath ran past the Guerrier, and did not bring up until abreast of the inner or larboard quarter of the second ship, the Conquérant. The Goliath then commenced a warm action with

* Williams's Voyage, a book often quoted by Mr. James ; the author of which was present at the Battle of the Nile, gives the following version of this anecdote., "Nelson hailed Hood, and asked him if he thought there was sufficient depth of water for our ships between the enemy and the shore ?" "I don't know, sir," replied Hood, "but with your permission, I will stand in and try."

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