The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson Volume I Part 19

16. L'Artemise 36 250 Burnt.

17. Le Serieuse 36 250 Dismasted and sunk.

Horatio Nelson.

Vanguard, off the Mouth of the Nile, 3d August 1798.

No mention is made, in the above French List, of the numerous gun-boats employed by the enemy; while the Culloden, though not engaged, is preserved in the British Line of Battle.

_A Return of the Killed and Wounded in his Majesty's s.h.i.+ps under the Command of Sir Horatio Nelson, K. B. Rear-Admiral of the Blue, &c. in Action with the French Fleet, at Anchor, on the 1st of August 1798, off the Mouth of the Nile._

+-------------++---------------++---------------++-------+ | || Killed || Wounded || T K W | | |+---------------++---------------+| o i o | | || O | S | M | T || O | S | M | T || t l u | | || f | e | a | o || f | e | a | o || a l n | | || f | a | r | t || f | a | r | t || l e d | | || i | m | i | a || i | m | i | a || d e | | || c | e | n | l || c | e | n | l || d | | || e | n | e | || e | n | e | || a | | || r | | r | || r | | r | || n | |s.h.i.+ps Names. || s | | s | || s | | s | || d | +-------------++---+---+---+---++---+---+---+---++-------+ |Theseus || | 5| | 5|| 1| 24| 5| 30|| 35 | |Alexander || 1| 13| | 14|| 5| 48| 5| 58|| 72 | |Vanguard || 3| 20| 7| 30|| 7| 60| 8| 75|| 105 | |Minotaur || 2| 18| 3| 23|| 4| 54| 6| 64|| 87 | |Swiftsure || | 7| | 7|| 1| 19| 2| 22|| 29 | |Audacious || | 1| | 1|| 2| 31| 2| 35|| 36 | |Defence || | 3| 1| 4|| | 9| 2| 11|| 15 | |Zealous || | 1| | 1|| | 7| | 7|| 8 | |Orion || 1| 11| 1| 13|| 5| 18| 6| 29|| 42 | |Goliath || 2| 12| 7| 21|| 4| 28| 9| 41|| 62 | |Majestic || 3| 33| 14| 50|| 3|124| 16|143|| 193 | |Bellerophon || 4| 32| 13| 49|| 5|126| 17|148|| 197 | |Leander || | | | || | 14| | 14|| 14 | | |+---+---+---+---++---+---+---+---++-------+ | || 16|156| 46|218|| 37|562| 78|677|| 895 | +-------------++---+---+---+---++---+---+---+---++-------+

OFFICERS KILLED

Of what s.h.i.+ps. | Names and Rank.

----------------+--------------------------------------------- Vanguard | Captain William Faddy, Marines.

| Mr. Thomas Seymour, Mids.h.i.+pman | Mr. John G. Taylor, Mids.h.i.+pman.

Alexander | Mr. John Collins, Lieutenant.

Orion | Mr. Baird, Captain's Clerk.

Goliath | Mr. William Davies, Master's Mate.

| Mr. Andrew Brown, Mids.h.i.+pman.

Majestic | George B. Westcott, Esq. Captain.

| Mr. ZebedeeFord, Mids.h.i.+pman.

| Mr. Andrew Gilmore, Boatswain.

Bellerophon | Mr. Robert Savage Daniel, Lieutenant.

| Mr. Philip Watson Launder, Lieutenant.

| Mr. George Jolliffe, Lieutenant.

| Mr. Thomas Ellison, Master's Mate.

Minotaur | Lieutenant John S. Kirchener, Marines.

| Mr. Peter Walters, Master's Mate.

OFFICERS WOUNDED

Of what s.h.i.+ps. + Names and Rank.

------------------+----------------- Vanguard | Mr. Nathaniel Va.s.sal, Lieutenant.

| Mr. John M. Adye, Lieutenant.

| Mr. John Campbell, Admiral's Secretary.

| Mr. Michael Austin, Boatswain.

| Mr. John Weatherstone, Mids.h.i.+pman.

| Mr. George Antrim, Mids.h.i.+pman.

Theseus | Lieutenant Hawkins.

Alexander | Alexander John Ball, Esq. Captain.

| Captain J. Creswell, Marines.

| Mr. William Lawson, Master.

| Mr. George Bulley, Mids.h.i.+pman.

| Mr. Luke Anderson, Mids.h.i.+pman.

Audacious | Mr. John Jeans, Lieutenant.

| Mr. Christopher Font, Gunner.

Orion | Sir James Saumarez, Captain.

| Mr. Peter Sadler, Boatswain.

| Mr. Philip Richardson, Mids.h.i.+pman.

| Mr. Charles Miell, Mids.h.i.+pman.

| Mr. Lanfesty, Mids.h.i.+pman.

Goliath | Mr. William Wilkinson, Lieutenant.

| Mr. Lawrence Graves, Mids.h.i.+pman.

| Mr. Peter Strahan, Schoolmaster.

| Mr. James Payne, Mids.h.i.+pman.

Majestic | Mr. Charles Seward, Mids.h.i.+pman.

| Mr. Charles Royle, Mids.h.i.+pman.

| Mr. Robert Overton, Captain's Clerk.

Bellerophon | Henry D'E. Darby, Esq. Captain.

| Mr. Edward Kirby, Master.

| Captain John Hopkins, Marines.

| Mr. Chapman, Boatswain.

| Mr. Nicholas Betson, Mids.h.i.+pman.

Minotaur | Mr. Thomas Irwin, Lieutenant.

| Lieutenant John Jewel, Marines.

| Mr. Thomas Foxton, Second Master.

| Mr. Martin Wills, Mids.h.i.+pman.

Swiftsure | Mr. William Smith, Mids.h.i.+pman.

Horatio Nelson.

It appears, from these lists, that sixteen officers, one hundred and fifty-six seamen, and forty-six marines, making in all two hundred and eighteen persons, lost their lives; and that thirty-seven officers, five hundred and sixty-two seamen, and seventy-eight marines, amounting to six hundred and seventy-seven persons, were wounded: forming a total, in killed and wounded, on board the British fleet, if the admiral be included, who has, as usual, omitted himself, of eight hundred and ninety-six. Such was the dreadful price paid by the conquerors for this glorious victory; to the vanquished, the loss was incalculable. On a moderate estimate, for the exact number has not been ascertained, there could scarcely be less than three thousand French killed and wounded in this most memorable conflict. Certain it is, that the Bay of Aboukir, for many days after the battle, was so covered with the floating bodies of the slain, as to exhibit a most horrid and painful spectacle; and, though all possible endeavours were exerted to keep sinking them whenever they appeared, the shot used for this intention so frequently slipped off, that many of the bodies perpetually rose again to the surface. Indeed, from the excessive heat of the weather, the survivors, besides the offensive disgusts naturally excited, felt very alarming apprehensions of some pestilential visitation; which, however, they happily escaped. The numerous prisoners, including all the wounded, were immediately restored, on condition of not serving against England till exchanged.

In the mean time, from parts of the floating wreck of L'Orient, the officers of the fleet vied with each other in causing numerous articles to be manufactured, as commemorations of this glorious victory, which they most affectionately presented to their respected commander. Captain Hallowell, in particular, with singular zeal and attachment, procured a coffin to be made, by his carpenter, on board the Swiftsure, entirely from the wreck of L'Orient, iron as well as wood, in the most elegant manner that the workman could effect with such limited materials, and so little skill in that particular branch of business; which was delivered to Admiral Nelson with the following letter.

Swiftsure, August 1798.

"SIR,

"I Have taken the liberty of presenting you a coffin made from the mainmast 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."

The present of this worthy and brave officer, however singular, was received with an affectionate regard equal to that felt by himself. So highly, indeed, did the hero prize this gift, that he had it immediately placed upright in his cabin; and, though he was at length prevailed on, by the intreaties of an old and favourite servant, to have the coffin carried below, nothing could possibly prevent his resolution to have it finally made use of for the purpose originally intended by the gallant and esteemed donor.

While the various dispatches were preparing to be sent by Captain Capel to England, as soon as La Mutine could be got ready for sailing, those of Bonaparte to France were fortunately intercepted; as appears in the continuation of the following letter from Admiral Nelson to Sir William Hamilton.

"Vanguard, Mouth of the Nile, 8th August 1798.