按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
so many solid cylinders。
The firing recommenced with the ships to leeward of the centre； and continued till about three。 At daybreak； the GUILLAUME TELL and the GENEREUX； the two rear ships of the enemy； were the only French ships of the line which had their colours flying； they cut their cables in the forenoon； not having been engaged； and stood out to sea； and two frigates with them。 The ZEALOUS pursued； but as there was no other ship in a condition to support Captain Hood； he was recalled。 It was generally believed by the officers that if Nelson had not been wounded； not one of these ships could have escaped。 The four certainly could not if the CULLODEN had got into action； and if the frigates belonging to the squadron had been present； not one of the enemy's fleet would have left Aboukir Bay。 These four vessels； however； were all that escaped； and the victory was the most complete and glorious in the annals of naval history。 〃Victory；〃 said Nelson； 〃is not a name strong enough for such a scene：〃 he called it a conquest。 Of thirteen sail of the line； nine were taken and two burned。 Of the four frigates； one was sunk； another； the ARTEMISE； was burned in a villanous manner by her captain； M。 Estandlet； who； having fired a broadside at the THESEUS； struck his colours； then set fire to the ship and escaped with most of his crew to shore。 The British loss； in killed and wounded； amounted to 895 Westcott was the only captain who fell； 3105 of the French； including the wounded； were sent on shore by cartel； and 5225 perished。
As soon as the conquest was completed； Nelson sent orders through the fleet to return thanksgiving in every ship for the victory with which Almighty God had blessed his majesty's arms。 The French at Rosetta； who with miserable fear beheld the engagement； were at a loss to understand the stillness of the fleet during the performance of this solemn duty； but it seemed to affect many of the prisoners； officers as well as men； and graceless and godless as the officers were； some of them remarked that it was no wonder such order was Preserved in the British navy； when the minds of our men could be Impressed with such sentiments after so great a victory； and at a moment of such confusion。 The French at Rosetta； seeing their four ships sail out of the bay unmolested； endeavoured to persuade themselves that they were in possession of the place of battle。 But it was in vain thus to attempt； against their own secret and certain conviction； to deceive themselves； and even if they could have succeeded in this； the bonfires which the Arabs kindled along the whole coast； and over the country； for the three following nights； would soon have undeceived them。 Thousands of Arabs and Egyptians lined the shore； and covered the house tops during the action； rejoicing in the destruction which had overtaken their invaders。 Long after the battle； innumerable bodies were seen floating about the bay； in spite of all the exertions which were made to sink them； as well from fear of pestilence as from the loathing and horror which the sight occasioned。 Great numbers were cast up upon the Isle of Bekier （Nelson's Island； as it has since been called）； and our sailors raised mounds of sand over them。 Even after an interval of nearly three years Dr。 Clarke saw them； and assisted in interring heaps of human bodies； which； having been thrown up by the sea where there were no jackals to devour them； presented a sight loathsome to humanity。 The shore； for an extent of four leagues； was covered with wreck； and the Arabs found employment for many days in burning on the beach the fragments which were cast up； for the sake of the iron。 Part of the ORIENT's main…mast was picked up by the SWIFTSURE。 Captain Hallowell ordered his carpenter to make a coffin of it； the iron； as well as the wood； was taken from the wreck of the same ship； it was finished as well and handsomely as the workman's skill and materials would permit； and Hallowell then sent it to the admiral with the following letter：〃Sir； I have taken the liberty of presenting you a coffin made from the main mast of L'ORIENT； that when you have finished your military career in this world you may be buried in one of your trophies。 But that that period may be far distant is the earnest wish of your sincere friend； Benjamin Hallowell。〃An offering so strange； and yet so suited to the occasion； was received by Nelson in the spirit with which it was sent。 As if he felt it good for him； now that he was at the summit of his wishes； to have death before his eyes； he ordered the coffin to be placed upright in his cabin。 Such a piece of furniture； however； was more suitable to his own feelings than to those of his guests and attendants； and an old favourite servant entreated him so earnestly to let it be removed； that at length he consented to have the coffin carried below； but he gave strict orders that it should be safely stowed； and reserved for the purpose for which its brave and worthy donor had designed it。
The victory was complete； but Nelson could not pursue it as he would have done for want of means。 Had he been provided with small craft； nothing could have prevented the destruction of the store…ships and transports in the port of Alexandria： four bomb…vessels would at that time have burned the whole in a few hours。 〃Were I to die this moment。〃 said he in his despatches to the Admiralty； 〃WANT OF FRIGATES would be found stamped on my heart！ No words of mine can express what I have suffered； and am suffering； for want of them。〃 He had also to bear up against great bodily suffering： the blow had so shaken his head； that from its constant and violent aching； and the perpetual sickness which accompanied the pain； he could scarcely persuade himself that the skull was not fractured。 Had it not been for Troubridge； Ball； Hood； and Hallowell； he declared that he should have sunk under the fatigue of refitting the squadron。 〃All；〃 he said； 〃had done well； but these officers were his supporters。〃 But； amidst his sufferings and exertions； Nelson could yet think of all the consequences of his victory； and that no advantage from it might be lost； he despatched an officer overland to India； with letters to the governor of Bombay； informing him of the arrival of the French in Egypt； the total destruction of their fleet； and the consequent preservation of India from any attempt against it on the part of this formidable armament。 〃He knew that Bombay；〃 he said； 〃was their first object； if they could get there； but he trusted that Almighty God would overthrow in Egypt these pests of the human race。 Buonaparte had never yet had to contend with an English officer； and he would endeavour to make him respect us。〃 This despatch he sent upon his own responsibility； with letters of credit upon the East India Company； addressed to the British consuls； vice…consuls； and merchants on his route； Nelson saying； 〃that if he had done wrong； he hoped the bills would be paid； and he would repay the Company； for； as an Englishman； he should be proud that it had been in his power to put our settlements on their guard。〃 The information which by this means reached India was of great importance。 Orders had just been received for defensive preparations； upon a scale proportionate to the apprehended danger； and the extraordinary expenses which would otherwise have been incurred were thus prevented。
Nelson was now at the summit of glory； congratulations； rewards； and honours were showered upon him by all the states； and princes； and powers to whom his victory gave a respite。 The first communication of this nature which he received was from the Turkish sultan； who； as soon as the invasion of Egypt was known； had called upon 〃all true believers to take arms against those swinish infidels the French； that they might deliver these blessed habitations from their accursed hands；〃 and who had ordered his 〃pashas to turn night into day in their efforts to take vengeance。〃 The present of 〃his imperial majesty； the powerful； formidable； and most magnificent Grand Seignior；〃 was a pelisse of sables； with broad sleeves； valued at 5000 dols。； and a diamond aigrette； valued at 18；000 dols。； the most honourable badge among the Turks； and in this instance more especially honourable； because it was taken from one of the royal turbans。 〃If it were worth a million；〃 said Nelson to his wife； 〃my pleasure would be to see it in your possession。〃 The sultan also sent； in a spirit worthy of imitation； a purse of 2000 sequins； to be distributed among the wounded。 The mother of the sultan sent him a box； set with diamonds； valued at L1000。 The Czar Paul； in whom the better part of his strangely compounded nature at this time predominated； presented him with his portrait； set in diamonds； in a gold box； accompanied with a letter of congratulation； written by his own hand。 The king of Sardinia also wrote to him； and sent a gold box set with diamonds。 Honours in profusion were awaiting him at Naples。 In his own country the king granted these honourable augmentations to his armorial ensign： a chief undulated； ARGENT： thereon waves of the sea； from which a palm tree issuant； between a disabled ship on the dexter； and a ruinous battery on the sinister all prop