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About noon we discovered the French Fleet laying at anchor [at] Baguin roads at the Mouth of the river Nile [.] At 28 past 6 o'clock they French hoisted their colours and Commenced firing on our Van ships[.] 2 post 6 came to anchor with our best hour [bore?] along side of the Spartate of 74 guns witch was continued till 11 past 8 when our opponent struck and sent lieut Galey with a party of Marines to take possession of her. At 9 saw 3 other ships strike to the Zealous, Audacious, and Minitaur and saw the L'Orent took fire the ships a tied still Keeping up their fire[.] At 11 saw L'Orent Blow up with a great explosion[.] The enemy ceased their fire[.] At 10 minutes post saw another ship On fire wich in 2 minutes was Extinguished and afresh Cannon coding began 20 minutes 11 wich cease of firing far 10 min when it was again renewed. 10 min before 12 a total cease of firing. At 12 Boat with a parry of Marines and 2 Officers was sent out to reconise a ship wich was drifted below the Fleet waith no mast nor bosprit wich proved to be the Bellerophon wich in returning came through the reck of the L'Orent and saved 2 men and one boy. The boat not being hable to hould any more as there was a great meney French men upon the rack wich cried out to the boat as she passed them. At 3 the boat returned from the second[.] 10 past 5 the Enemy's ships to the south began firing[.] 55 minutes post 5 the French Frigate fired broadside and struck her colours in 10 minafter she was seen on fire[.] At 6 am the Goliah bore down to the enemy's ships to southward and wich had not yet struck[.] 41 mm past 6 she began firing at a frigate and the Zealous got under way and went ahead[.] Continued until 11 before 7 [.] At 50 post 6 one of the enemy's ships of the line fared some guns and then struck her colours[.] At 55 past 5 the Zealous got under way and went ahead[.] 55 past 10 the English ships began firing at a French frigate gave her two broadsides and then ceased[.] ½ past 11 2 line of Battle ships and 2 frigates got under way and stud out for say our ships firing at them as they passed them. 45 minutes past 12 the Zealous wich was cruising out gave a broadside to each ship as she passed them.
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You would probably have needed quite a lot of
vodka in your system to argue that Napoleon won the Battle of the Nile over Lord Nelson. Most of Napoleon's ships of the line were captured and unmasted. His flagship had blown up with a explosion seldom seen in the 1700s. Many a French
sailor had died when L'Orient --the French flagship-- had its magazine explode sending shrapnel at English ships as well. This also prevented Napoleon from
importing more men and supplies for his Egyptian expedition. At least, Napoleon did not lose a French Imperial
Eagle at this first major defeat.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Imperial_Eagle
You can see one of these Napoleonic eagles here--
http://www.lancashireinfantrymuseum....he-collection/