Zealous.

Vanguard, at sea, 8th June 1798.

GEN. MEM.

As the wind may probably blow along shore when it is deemed
necessary to anchor and engage the enemy at their anchorage, it
is recommended to each line-of-battle ship of the squadron to
prepare to anchor with the sheet-cable in abaft and springs,
&c.--Vide Signal 54, and Instructions thereon, page 56, &c.
Article 37 of the Instructions.

HORATIO NELSON.

To the respective Captains, &c.

Mem. P.S.--To be inserted in pencil in the Signal-Book, at No.
182. Being to windward of the enemy, to denote that I mean to
attack the enemy's line from the rear towards the van, as far as
thirteen ships, or whatever number of the British ships of the
line may be present, that each ship may know his opponent in the
enemy's line.

No. 183. I mean to press hard with the whole force on the
enemy's rear.

The proceedings of Sir Horatio Nelson's squadron are now brought down
to the moment when their united, ardent, and anxious wishes were to
be realized. The disappointments they had met with during their
hitherto fruitless pursuit,--the state of anxiety, of alternate hope
and despair, in which they had been kept, had raised their feelings of
emulation to a pitch far beyond description; this was soon to be
manifested by the endeavours of each to close with the enemy.

Never could there have been selected a set of officers better
calculated for such a service; Nelson was fortunate in commanding
them, and they in being commanded by him. It is true, indeed, that his
particular favourite, Captain Troubridge, was intended for his
second-in-command, instead of Sir James Saumarez; and the latter would
no doubt have been sent home, according to the orders he had received:
but, with the chance of such an engagement as that which they
anticipated, the well-tried captain of the Orion and his highly
disciplined crew could not be spared; and, although Nelson carefully
concealed his feelings towards Saumarez, they were but too manifest by
the chary manner in which he expressed himself on this and on former
occasions.

In consequence of the before-mentioned information, the fleet bore up
for Alexandria; and on the morning of the 1st of August the towers of
that celebrated city, and Pompey's Pillar made their appearance. Soon
after was discerned a forest of masts in the harbour, which they had
previously seen empty; and, lastly, th