as I should be sorry to have
any accounts get home before my dispatches. I hope there will be no
difficulty in our getting refitted at Naples. Culloden must be
instantly hove down, and Vanguard have all new masts and bowsprit.
Not more than four or five sail of the line will probably come to
Naples: the rest will go with the prizes to Gibraltar. As this army
never will return, I hope to hear the emperor has regained the
whole of Italy. With every good wish, believe me, dear Sir, your
most obliged, and affectionate,

"Horatio Nelson.

"9th August. I have intercepted all Bonaparte's dispatches going to
France. The army is in a scrape, and will not get out of it."

These intercepted dispatches were transmitted to Earl Spencer, as First
Lord of the Admiralty, with the following letter.

"Mouth of the Nile,
9th August 1798,

"MY LORD,

"Were I to die this moment, _want of frigates_ would be found
stamped on my heart. No words of mine, can express what I have
suffered, and am suffering, for want of them. Having only La Mutine
brig, I cannot yet send off Captain Capel, which I am very anxious
to do: for, as an accident may happen to Captain Berry, it is of
some importance, I think, for your lordship to be informed of our
success as speedily as possible. If the King of Naples had joined
us, nothing at this moment could prevent the destruction of the
store ships, and all the transports, in the port of Alexandria;
four bomb vessels would burn the whole in a few hours: but, as I
have not the means, I can only regret the circumstance. I send you
a pacquet of intercepted letters, some of them of great importance;
in particular, one from Bonaparte to his brother. He writes such a
scrawl, as no one not used to it can read: but, luckily, we have
got a man who has wrote in his office to decypher it. Bonaparte has
differed with his generals here: and he did want--and, if I
understand his meaning, does want, and will strive to be, the
Washington of France. "_Ma mere_," is evidently meant for "_my
country_." But, I beg pardon: all this is, I have no doubt, well
known to administration. I believe, our victory will, in it's
consequences, destroy this army; at least, my endeavours shall not
be wanting. I shall remain here for some time. I have thought it