oceedings of the British
fleet, under its leader, show an instructive combination of rapidity
and caution, of quick comprehension of the situation, with an absence
of all precipitation; no haste incompatible with perfect carefulness,
no time lost, either by hesitation or by preparations postponed. When
the enemy were first discovered, two ships, the "Alexander" and
"Swiftsure," were a dozen miles to leeward, having been sent ahead on
frigates' duty to reconnoitre Alexandria. This circumstance prevented
their joining till after the battle began and night had fallen. At the
same moment the "Culloden" was seven miles to windward. She was
signalled to drop the prize she was towing, and to join the fleet. To
this separation was due that she went aground. The remaining ten
ships, which had been steering about east, hauled sharp on the wind to
enable them to weather with ample allowance the shoal off Aboukir
Island. It was blowing a whole-sail breeze, too fresh for the lighter
canvas; the royals were furled as soon as close-hauled. As the French
situation and dispositions developed to the view, signals were made to
prepare for battle, to get ready to anchor by the stern, and that it
was the admiral's intention to attack the van and centre of the
enemy. The captains had long been forewarned of each of these
possibilities, and nothing more was needed to convey to them his
general plan, which was intrusted to them individually to carry out as
they successively came into action.

At about half-past five signal was given to form line of battle. This,
for the ships of the day, was a single column, in which they were
ranged ahead and astern of each other, leaving the broadside clear. As
they came abreast the shoal, Nelson hailed Captain Hood, of the
"Zealous," and asked if he thought they were yet far enough to the
eastward to clear it, if they then headed for the enemy. Hood replied
that he did not know the ground, but was in eleven fathoms, and would,
if the admiral allowed, bear up and sound with the lead, and would not
bring the fleet into danger. This was done, Hood leading all the fleet
except the "Goliath," Captain Foley, which kept ahead, but outside, of
the "Zealous." No close shaving was done, however, at this critical
turn; and it is that steady deliberation, combined with such parsimony
of time in other moments, which is most impressive in Nelson. So few
realize that five minutes are at once the most important and the lea