Brigs, Alerte and Railleur;
Bomb-vessels, Hercule, Salamine, and another, and several gun-boats.

Previously to our entering into the details of the famous battle that ensued, it will be useful to give a slight description of the spot in which it was fought. The bay of Aboukir commences, as already mentioned, about 20 miles to the east-north-east of Alexandria, and extends from the castle of Aboukir, in a semicircular direction, to the westernmost or Rosetta mouth of the Nile, distant from the castle about six miles. Aboukir bay has no depth for line-of-battle ships nearer than three miles from the shore, a sand-bank, on which there is not any where more than four fathoms, running out to that distance. Owing also to the width of its opening, the bay affords very little shelter, except on its west-north-west side (that from which the wind on this coast commonly blows) by a small island, situated about two miles from the point whereon the castle stands, and connected with it by a chain of sand-banks and rocks, between which, however, there is a passage for small-craft. Aboukir island is surrounded by a continuation of the shoal that runs along the bottom of the bay ; and which extends from the island about 1650 yards, or nearly a mile, in a north-east direction.

It appears that, on first taking up this anchorage, Vice-admiral Brueys held a council of flag-officers and captains to determine whether, in case of attack, the fleet should engage at anchor or under sail. All the officers, except Rear-admiral Blanquet, approved of the fleet's remaining at anchor : he maintained, that it was only when a fleet could be supported by strong forts crossing each other in their fire, that any advantage was gained by anchoring. However, finding the majority against him, M. Blanquet requested that the Franklin might be placed as one of the seconds to the commander-in-chief. His request was granted, and the ships were formed in line ahead in the

* For Commodore Perrée, appointed to command the gun-boats on the Nile.

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