ADMIRAL NELSON'S VICTORY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 24 March 1923, Page 10

ADMIRAL NELSON'S VICTORY.

The offieikl news of the GLORIOUS VICTORY obtained by i^di^iral Nelson over the Fiench Meet, near Rosetta, arrived at the , Admiralty yesterday "morning at a quarter past eleven 0 'clock. It was brought by the Hon. Captain Capel, one of Lord Essex's sons, and lately made master and commander into the Mutine cutter, from the Admiral's flag-ship. He was detained at Naples one day, '©wing to some necessar> ceremonies of Quarantine. Park and Tower guns, and the merry peals of the bells from'the steeples of several churches, soon announced this happy news to the public. liord Spencer wrote official information of it to the Lord Mayor; «nd Mr Winchester, the messenger, was sent off express to the King at Weymouth, m order that His Majesty might learn the glad tidings before he went to rest. Yesterday evening the following Gazette Extraordinary was published:— ;r

LONDON GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY. Admiralty Office, Oct. 2. The Hon. Oaptaiu Capel. of his Majesty's sloop Mutine, arrived tins morning with despatches from Rear-Admiral Sir Horatio X.8., to Evan Nepean, Esq., Secretary of the Admiralty, of which the following are copies:— : " Vanguard, "Mouth of the Nile, Aug. 7. ■ " Sir, —Herewith I have the honour to transmit you a copy*of Jny^ letter to the Earl of St. Vincent, together with a line-of-battle a. of the English and French squadrons, also a list of killed and I have the pleasure to inform you that eight of our ships Aave already top-gallant yards across, ready for any service; the * others, with the prizes, will soon be ready for sea. In an event - n>f this importance I have thought it right to send Captain Capel ■with a copy of my letter (to the Commander-in-Chief) over land, - which I hope their Lordships will approve; and beg leaye to refer them to Captain Capel, who is a most excellent officer, and fully able , *°, 4 ?ive cve *T information; and I beg leave to recommend him to ifceir Lordships'notice. "I have the honour to be, etc., _ x ; " HORATIO NELSON." "Evan Nepean, Esq.* A "P.S.—The Island I have taken'possession of, and brought off the two 13-inch-mortars, all the brass; guns, and destroyed the iron ones." ''Vanguard, off the Mouth of the Nile, Aug. 3. - «!' "? IV LORD,—-Almighty God has blessed his Majesty's arms an the late battle by a great victory over the Fleet of the Enemy " attacked at sun-set on the Ist of August, off the mouth of - ?fe« N"e- The Enemy were moored in a strong line of battle for . Vdefending the entrance of the Bay (of Shoals), flanked by numerous gan-boats, four frigates, and a battery of guns and mortars on an «-. -island in their Van; but nothing could withstand the Squadron *- - S£ U? Jj!? rJ sni P dld me the honour to place under my command. lUeir high state of discipline is well known to you, and with the ; , ff d-gm^nt vof tlie captains, together with their valour, and that of -!•£T Cei%S and men of every description, it was absolutely irreJ'P oul T d "nyttimff. from my pen add to the character of the captains, 1 would write it with pleasure, but that is impossible. wi. 1-n^ reg? t .the loss of Ca Ptain Westcott, of the Majestic, who was killed early jn the action; but the ship was continued to i»e go well fought? by the First Lieutenant Mr. Cuthbert, that I have given him an order to command her till your Lordship's pleasure vv , la Known. x f' *• "^^PS ofthe enemy, all but their two rear ships, are nearly * ?TJ?*; and thGSe tw0 ' With -frigates, lam sorry to say, **" S™ i?* f ?aPT?; T WaS h > l assure y°u > in mv i>°™ to prevent '*" * ?S^ Captain Hood most handsomely endeavoured to do it, but I * ~«att he°r lln ™ COnditioll to suPPort ..the Zealous, and was obliged to '* HorZV 1* "JPP OPI «&d assistance I have received from Captain - *^*™\\™n*ertly expressed. I was wounded in the head ' tahJfef t0 Cn n>ied- °l the deck ' but the se*™e suffered no t loss by ttiat event. Captain Berry was fully equal to the important , service going on, and to him I must beg leave to ref ev youTo? eveW - ' 532? 0? relai- VG t0 tMs Victol^ fee wilKpresent^u vi£Z C 2£%£S^ mBUa*' that <*^^^-lcKei being » S3i^^ste^ -d %°* f ~ - - , LINE OF; BATTLE. >*■'» *• 4"«xander— Alex. J. Ball, captain, 74 guns 590 men »^* &V HORATIO NELSON. '; IM* 4^ s V! ngUaTd ' Off the Mouth of the N^e, August 3,1796. - : iSp^/, J - rBENCH LINE OF BATTLE ■ ■ =X ®r?4i Jit.i«S lwrrierT-74 guns, 700 men—Taten m S^f^T* 0 Conquerant—7o guns, 700 men—Taken. - % lt# >'- 1 *"f PPa«iate-74 700 men—Taken. V gpfc??* J-"J«^qmlon-~74 guns, 700 men-Taken. - -■ W\i ; -i* SS % OW£l abl Jenplo—74 guns, .700 men—Taken. iSfilir" B.,ieTouant—Bo guns, 800 men—Taken, §ftUr H^. reU?~ 74 uns ' 700 men—Taken. W^Vk r 6 ™oleon—74 guns, 700 men—Burnt ?€■£# Wii'> t e. r,^ ure~ & guns»- 70° men—Taken. " *' Vmminl SeC°nd CentfG Admira1 ' 80 W 800 6 <?ei>erenx—74 guns, 700 men—Escaped. W&£3?& i s n- tn FBIGATES. ' \. W& FS S^'?"? 6"48 gUns ' 300 mea-Eseaped. , x \ %- HI <fe,J* lf^t«?»ae-~3^ gi<ns, 250 m^n—Burnt. \ W/^3' Jf'fTl9aß^~ m'S^' 250 and sunk. X »s£ t r^ - - HORATIO NELSON. .. .

Vanguard, off. the Mouth of the Nile August 3, 1798. Keturn of the Killed and Wounded in His Majesty's Ships under the command of Sir Horatio Nelson, X.8., Rear-Admiral of the Blue, in action with the French, at anchor ons the Ist of August, 1798, off the Mouth of the Nile. Theseus —Jfe seamen, killed; 1 officer, 24 seamen, 5 marines wounded — Total 35. Alexander- —1 officer, 13 seamen, killed; 5 officers, 4S seamen, 5 marines, wounded—Total 72. Vanguard —3 officers, 20 seamen, 7 marines, killed; 7 officers, GO seamen, 8 marines, wounded— total 105. "Minotaur —2 officers, 18 seamen, 3 marines, killed; -t officers, 54 seamen, 6 marines, wounded —Total 87. Swiftsure —7 seamen, killed; 1 officer, 19 seamen, 2 marines, wounded — Total 29. Audacious —1 seaman, killed; 2 officers, 31 seamen, 2 marines, woiunded— Total 36. Defence —3 seamen, 1 marine, killed; 9 seamen, 2 marines, wounded — Total 15: Zealous —1 seaman, killed; 7 seamen, wounded —Total 8. Orion —1 officer, 11 seamen, killed; 5 officers, 8 seamen, 6 marines, wounded —Total 42. Goliath —2 officers, 12 seamen, 7 marines, killed; 4 officers, 28 seamen, 9 marines, wounded —Total 62. Majestic —3 officers, 33 seamen, 14 marines, killed; 3 officers, 124 seamen, 16 marines, wounded —Total 193. Bellerophon—4 officers, 32 seamen, 13 marines, killed; o officers, 12G seamen, 17 marines, Avounded —Total 197. Leander —14 seamen, wounded. TOTAL —-16 officers, 156 seamen, 46 marines killed; 37 officers, 562 seamen, 78 marines, wounded —Total 895. OFFICERS KILLED. Vanguard —Captain Taddy, marines; Mr. Thomas Seymour, Mr. John G. Taylor, midshipmen. "■ Alexander- —Mr. John Collins, lieutenant. Orion —Mr. Baird, captain's clerk. Goliath—Mr. William Davies, master's mate; Mr. Andrew Brown, midshipman. Majestic—George B. WestcotL captain; Mr. Zebedee Ford, midshipman; Mr. Andrew Gilmore, boatswain. " Bellerophon —Mr. Robert Savage Daniel, Mr. Ph. W. Launder,.Mr. George Joliffe, lieutenants; Mr. Thomas Ellison, master's mate. Minotaur —Lieutenant J. S. Kitchener, master; Mr. Peter Walters, master's mate. OFFICERS WOUNDED. Vanguard—Mr. N. Vassell, Mr. J. Adyn, lieutenants; Mr. J. Campbell, Admiral's secretary; Mr. M. Austin, boatswain; Mr. J. Weathcrstone, Mr George Antrim, midshipmen. Theseus —Lieut. Hawkins. Alexander —Alex. J. Ball, Esq., captain; Captain J. Cresswcll, marines; Mr. W. Lawson, master; Mr. J. Bully, Mr. Luke Anderson, midshipmen. Audacious —Mr. John Jeane, lieutenant; Mr. Christopher Font, gunner. Orion—Sir James Saumarez, captain; Mr. Peter Sadler, boatswain; Mr. Philip Richardson, Mr. Charles Miell, Mr. Lausesty, midshipmen. Goliath —Mr. William Wilkinson, lieutenant; Mr. Lawrence Graves, midshipman; Mr. P. Straeha'n, schoolmaster; Mr. James Payne, midshipman. Majestic—Mr. Charles Seward, Mr. Charles Koyle, midshipmen; Mr. Robert Overtoil, captain's clerk.Bellerophon—H. D. Darby, Esq., captain; Mr. Edward Kirby, master; Captain John Hopkins, marines; Mr. Chapman, boatswain; Mr Nicholas Bettson, midshipman. Minotaur —Mr. Thomas Irwin, lieutenant; Lieutenant John Jewel], marines; Mr. Thomas Foxten, second master; Mr. Martin Wills, midshipman. Swiftsure —Mr. William Smith, midshipman. HORATIO NELSON. ! " Vanguard, off the Mouth of the Nile, Aug. 11. "My Lord, —Herewith I send you a copy of my letter to the Earl of St. Vincent of this date. —I have the honour to be, etc., "HORATIO NELSON. "Evan Nepean, Esq." • "Vanguard, off the Mouth of the Nile, Aug. 11. "My Lord, —The Swiftsure brought in this morning La Fortune, French Corvette, of 18 guns, and 70 men.- —I have the honour to be, etc., . . ■ • "HORATIO NELSON. "Earl St. Vincent."

The narrative of this glorious action is much too concise to satisfy the curious eye of the public; it is written in the tftue style of a seaman, who understands how to lead his fleet to victory better than <to write a long letter. Admiral Nelson was severely hurt by .1 splinter, which struck his head and eyes, and the French Admiral Brueys was killed towards the close of the action, being shot through the body. His first Captain was also killed. Admiral Nelson was left by Captain Capel on the ground where the action happened, refitting his fleet. The transports that were at Kosetta are most of them burnt; the rest that are at Alexandria will most probably share the same fate. The two frigates that escaped are said to have made for a Turkish port, where they are detained as prizes.

hopes of seeing a termination to this calamitous war, in the only way in which it can be terminated either with i honour or security. Motives of private . interest or State necessity may have ; induced some Cabinets to make peace with France, and even to become her allies. But thoxigh France may have allies, it is impossible that the French Republic can have any, who are so sincerely.

i The illuminations at night were gen- !■ ' eral throughout, the metropolis and itl ' neighbourhood. The Admiralty and the : Navy and Victualling Ofiiees, of course, ' took the lead in point of splendour; and such was the zeal shown by the public • at large that to particularise any house ! , would appear invidious. It is sufficient • |to say that all ranks of the people seemed to participate in the glorious news. The following is a copy of Lord Spencer's letter to the Lord Mayor:—----j "Admiralty, 2nd Oct., 1795. ! _ "My Lord, —I have great satisfaction in acquainting your Lordship that : the Hon. Captain Capel is at this me- ! ment arrived with Despatches from i Rear-Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson, giv- ' ing an account of his having attacked the French squadron under Admiral Brueys, near Rosetta, and his having had the good fortune to obtain a com- ! plete victory over the enemy without ; the loss of any one of his Majesty's j ships. j I"I most sincerely congratulate your ' Lordship on this important occasion, • j and have the honour to be, with great ; regard, my Lord, ' I "Your Lordships' most obedient and humble servant, j "SPENCER. | j "The Eight Hon. the Lord Mayor." j j The Anson frigate fell in with the : Brest squadron on the 24th ult., and was so nigh the Iloche as plainly to perceive the troops on board her, The j Hoche sailed so very bad, and appear- ' !ed to be so encumbered, that it is f thought Sir John Borlase Warren must • reach the coast, of Ireland before the . French can have approached it. This ! very gallant officer sailed from Ply- j I mouth on the 24th xilt., with a separate | command, and took with him the folj lowing ships:— J Foudroyant, 80 guns, Captain Sir T. Byard. i Canada, 74 guns. Captain Sir J. B. ' Warren. , Robust, 74 guns, Captain E. Thornborough, j •Magnanime, 44 guns, Captain De Courcy. Atlantc, 16 guns, Captain D. Dent. i His orders were to attach every ' j fngate to his squadron that he should fall in with, and to sail in quest of the Brest fleet. Lord Bridport is station- l ed off Ushant to prevent their return into port. i

Captain Troubridge, unfortunatley, could not take any share in the action, ! as the Culloden ran on shore in the eagerness of the officers to bring her , into action. But we understand she ] was afterwards got off without any! material damage. The shores were lined with the natives, who share in the joy of our brave countrymen in witnessing the defeat of the enniy. It cannet fail to produce the happiest effects ' in. inspiring them with confidence against their invaders. t f We most sincerely lament the num- . ber of brave men whose services the ' country has lost; but when it 'is con- • sidered that the action lasted through- j out the following day that it com- ' menced, and that most of the ships fought^ almost lashed together, the num- ; bers will be found comparatively small. • The Admiral's ship, and the Majestic, whose brave Captain was killed' early in the action, appear to have suffered most. The loss of the French in killed and wounded is calculated at 5000 men. j Captain Capel has brought over a ' variety of important information re- ; specting the landing of the French at Alexandria, and their progress towards Cairo. If is known that they have J landed 22,000 infantry and 500 cavalry ! at Alexandria; and we have heard it stated from very respectable authority • that not more than 11,000 men have . reached Cairo. Certain it is that, in- ! dependent of being harassed by the i Arabian Horse, the French have lost a j great number of men by disease, prin- j cipally from the badness of the water. General Buonaparte was on very bad terms with his officers, who were generally dispirited, and out of humour with the Expedition. ■ In our paper of yesterday we suggested such observations on this brilliant victory as occurred to us in the first moment 'of hearing it. A further consideration of the subject, and some more recent information respecting the ' general politics of Europe, particularly what regards the Southern and Eastern parts of it, strengthen our remarks. The Victory gained by Admiral Nelson is one of those events which will hereafter be less considered with respect to the glory which the British arms derive from it, than as it relates to foreign politics, and giving confidence to those who are on the point of entering on a new war with the French Republic. Already we know that a considerable army of Russians is approaching the Austrian territories to give confidence to the, we fear, yet undecided politics of the Emperor of Germany; a Russian fleet has arrived at Constantinople, on its passage to the Mediterranean through the Dardanelles • ' and the Grand Signior, from the decision and vigour that guide his councils, and hasten his preparations by sea and land, seems anxious to emulate his i ancient rival in laudable exertions The King of Naples we have long known to be hearty in the good cause I and waiting only for the protection of the British fleet to declare himself Every petty State in Italy is weary of ' | the endless rapacity of the agents of ; tlie Directory; and we have no doubt but the first successes obtained over the French will induce the new Republics to declare themselves against their tyrannous conquerors. We have al ways asserted that the way to make a : safe peace with the Directory was by i vigorous and successful exertions; and' < the prospect before us reanimates out tl

Immediately that the news of the gallant victory obtained by Admiral JSelson was known at Lloyd's, a subscription was opened for the relief of the widows and orphans of the brave men who perished fighting the battles ot their country. Every man in this country may address Admiral Nelson, with Shakespeare— "Horatio, thou are c'en as brave a man As e'er my conversation eop'd withal." L The capture of the.French fleet b y Nelson has reduced Buonaparte in 9Z\ t0 the Sltuation of Macbeth— lhere is no going hence nor tarrying here." A person last night in the gallery of -Drury-lane house, calling frequently in a boisterous manner for the tune of Batons Strike Home," was immediately silenced by the appropriate observation of another at some distance from him—"Why, damn it, they have, haven't them?" ' An affray happened last night opposite to the Admiralty, where the crowd was very great. The mob, as usual, msistea on every person of genteel appearance pulling off their hats; six officers passing along were ordered to pay he same compliment to the mobility"

and refusing to do so the populace attempted to force their hats off. The officers drew their swords, and it was said that some persons were wounded. To captivate is the great object of female dress, but the fashionables of the present day forget the old adage— "In vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird.''