French are
coming to attack London. I will suppose that 40,000 men are destined
for this attack, or rather surprise." His plan is given first in his
own words, as due to a matter of so much importance; and to them the
writer appends a summary of the principal features, as understood by
him. These are not always easily to be seen on the face of the paper,
owing to the small time for its preparation, and the consequent
haste--off-hand almost--with which it was drawn up, as is further
indicated from the copy in the Admiralty being in his own writing.

MEMORANDA BY LORD NELSON, ON THE DEFENCE OF THE THAMES, ETC.

25th July, 1801.

Besides the stationed Ships at the different posts between the
North Foreland and Orfordness, as many Gun-vessels as can be
spared from the very necessary protection of the Coast of Sussex
and of Kent to the westward of Dover, should be collected, for
this part of the Coast must be seriously attended to; for
supposing London the object of surprise, I am of opinion that
the Enemy's object _ought_ to be the getting on shore as
speedily as possible, for the dangers of a navigation of
forty-eight hours, appear to me to be an insurmountable
objection to the rowing from Boulogne to the Coast of Essex. It
is therefore most probable (for it is certainly proper to
believe the French are coming to attack London, and therefore to
be prepared) that from Boulogne, Calais, and even Havre, that
the enemy will try and land in Sussex, or the lower part of
Kent, and from Dunkirk, Ostend, and the other Ports of Flanders,
to land on the Coast of Essex or Suffolk; for I own myself of
opinion that, the object being to get on shore somewhere within
100 miles of London, as speedily as possible, that the Flats in
the mouth of the Thames will not be the only place necessary to
attend to; added to this, the Enemy will create a powerful
diversion by the sailing of the Combined Fleet, and the either
sailing, or creating such an appearance of sailing, of the Dutch
Fleet, as will prevent Admiral Dickson from sending anything
from off the great Dutch Ports, whilst the smaller Ports will
spew forth its Flotilla,--viz., Flushing, &c. &c. It must be
pretty well ascertained what number of small Vessels are in each
Port.

"I will suppose that 40,000 men are destined for this attack, or
rather surprise, of