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f the ships and weight of metal. Some of the ships, however, were worn out, and many of their crews were not seamen. [Sidenote: _BATTLE OF THE NILE._] Though Troubridge's ship, the _Culloden_, and two others were not with the main body, Nelson would not delay his attack, and at 5.30 P.M. formed his line of battle, the wind being N.N.W. and blowing down the French line. Very skilfully the British ships were taken round the island and the shoals. They then swept round, and steering to the south-west headed for the French van about 6.30, led by the _Goliath_ under Captain Foley. Near as the leading French ship, the _Guerrier_ (74), was to the shoal, Foley passed across her bows, and engaged the next ship, the _Conquerant_ (74), on the inshore side. Hood followed with the _Zealous_, and anchored by the _Guerrier_, and three more engaged on the enemy's port side, Nelson's ship, the _Vanguard_, and the two next attacking on the outside. Eight British ships set on the five of the French van, the two others engaged two Frenchmen of much larger size in the centre, and one of them, the _Bellerophon_, was dismasted and drifted off. Later two of the missing ships of Nelson's squadron and the _Leander_ came into action; the _Culloden_ having struck on a rock off the island, remained aground. By that time the French van was crushed, and the battle raged round the centre. Brueys fell, and soon afterwards his ship, the _Orient_ (120), caught fire. Her assailants poured so fierce a storm of shot upon her that her crew could not get the fire under. The summer night was lightened by the sheet of flame which wrapped her from the water-line to the mast-heads. The fire reached her magazine, and the great ship blew up with a terrific explosion. During the fight Nelson was badly wounded in the forehead. He was soon on deck again, and sent boats to pick up the survivors of the crew of the _Orient_. The British victory was completed in the morning, and never was victory so complete. Of seventeen French ships two were burnt besides the _Orient_, one sank, nine were taken, and only two ships of the line and two frigates escaped.[288] Great was the rejoicing in England at the news of the battle of the Nile. Nelson was raised to the peerage as Baron Nelson of the Nile and Burnham Thorpe; other honours were conferred on him both at home and by foreign sovereigns, and parliament voted him a pension of L2,000 a year for two lives. The king's spee
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