t they had gone;
then on we railed for Egypt, hoping to find them off Alexandria, but not
a sign of them could we discover. If we had had our frigates, we should
have found them out fast enough. Leaving Alexandria, we steered for
Syracuse, where we provisioned and watered; we visited the Morea; we
hunted along the Greek coast. At last we entered the Gulf of Coron,
where Captain Troubridge brought us the news that the French fleet had
been seen steering from Candia for Egypt four weeks before. Instantly
all sail was made for Alexandria. Still we scarcely expected to find
the French fleet there. Great then was our joy when the signal was seen
flying from the masthead of the `Zealous,' Captain Hood, that the
enemy's fleet were moored in Aboukir Bay. Not a moment was lost in
clearing the ships for action. We all knew that we had hot work before
us. We found the French fleet moored in a sort of curve in the bay, but
far enough from the shore to let some of our ships get inside of them;
that is, between them and the land. This the French little expected,
and many hadn't even their guns loaded on that side.

"Oh! it was a magnificent sight, as on we sailed, receiving a hot fire
from the shore batteries, but not answering a shot, while silently we
furled our sails, and got ready for anchoring. I believe that silence
made the hearts of the Frenchmen quake more than our loudest hurrahs
would have done. It was evening; the sun was just sinking into the
ocean as we entered the bay. The `Goliath' led the way, followed by the
`Zealous,' and then came the `Orion,' all anchoring inside the enemy's
line. The `Vanguard' (our ship) was the first which anchored outside,
within half pistol-shot of the `Spartiate.' We had six colours flying,
just us a sign to the Frenchmen that come what might we were not likely
to strike to them; and now there was very little to be seen but the
flashes and thick smoke from the guns. Other ships followed us outside
the French line, but the greater number were inside. No sooner were our
anchors dropped than we opened fire, our example being followed by the
other ships as they brought up. We blazed away in right earnest; there
was no flinching from our guns. What the Frenchmen were about I cannot
tell, but we seemed to fire two shots to their one; but then their guns
carried heavier metal than ours, and they had many more of them. It was
so dark that we had to get our fighting-lanterns hung