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vessel。 Many of her officers and men jumped overboard； some clinging to the spars and pieces of wreck with which the sea was strewn； others swimming to escape from the destruction which they momently dreaded。 Some were picked up by our boats； and some even in the heat and fury of the action were dragged into the lower ports of the nearest British ships by the British sailors。 The greater part of her crew； however； stood the danger till the last； and continued to fire from the lower deck。 This tremendous explosion was followed by a silence not less awful： the firing immediately ceased on both sides； and the first sound which broke the silence； was the dash of her shattered masts and yards； falling into the water from the vast height to which they had been exploded。 It is upon record that a battle between two armies was once broken off by an earthquake。 Such an event would be felt like a miracle； but no incident in war； produced by human means； has ever equalled the sublimity of this co…instantaneous pause； and all its circumstances。
About seventy of the ORIENT's crew were saved by the English boats。 Among the many hundreds who perished were the commodore； Casa…Bianca； and his son； a brave boy； only ten years old。 They were seen floating on a shattered mast when the ship blew up。 She had money on board （the plunder of Malta） to the amount of L600；000 sterling。 The masses of burning wreck； which were scattered by the explosion； excited for some moments apprehensions in the English which they had never felt from any other danger。 Two large pieces fell into the main and fore tops of the SWIFTSURE without injuring any person。 A port…fire also fell into the main…royal of the ALEXANDER； the fire which it occasioned was speedily extinguished。 Captain Ball had provided； as far as human foresight could provide； against any such danger。 All the shrouds and sails of his ship； not absolutely necessary for its immediate management； were thoroughly wetted； and so rolled up that they were as hard and as little inflammable as so many solid cylinders。
The firing recommenced with the ships to leeward of the centre； and continued till about three。 At daybreak； the GUILLAUME TELL and the GENEREUX； the two rear ships of the enemy； were the only French ships of the line which had their colours flying； they cut their cables in the forenoon； not having been engaged； and stood out to sea； and two frigates with them。 The ZEALOUS pursued； but as there was no other ship in a condition to support Captain Hood； he was recalled。 It was generally believed by the officers that if Nelson had not been wounded； not one of these ships could have escaped。 The four certainly could not if the CULLODEN had got into action； and if the frigates belonging to the squadron had been present； not one of the enemy's fleet would have left Aboukir Bay。 These four vessels； however； were all that escaped； and the victory was the most complete and glorious in the annals of naval history。 〃Victory；〃 said Nelson； 〃is not a name strong enough for such a scene：〃 he called it a conquest。 Of thirteen sail of the line； nine were taken and two burned。 Of the four frigates； one was sunk； another； the ARTEMISE； was burned in a villanous manner by her captain； M。 Estandlet； who； having fired a broadside at the THESEUS； struck his colours； then set fire to the ship and escaped with most of his crew to shore。 The British loss； in killed and wounded； amounted to 895 Westcott was the only captain who fell； 3105 of the French； including the wounded； were sent on shore by cartel； and 5225 perished。
As soon as the conquest was completed； Nelson sent orders through the fleet to return thanksgiving in every ship for the victory with which Almighty God had blessed his majesty's arms。 The French at Rosetta； who with miserable fear beheld the engagement； were at a loss to understand the stillness of the fleet during the performance of this solemn duty； but it seemed to affect many of the prisoners； officers as well as men； and graceless and godless as the officers were； some of them remarked that it was no wonder such order was Preserved in the British navy； when the minds of our men could be Impressed with such sentiments after so great a victory； and at a moment of such confusion。 The French at Rosetta； seeing their four ships sail out of the bay unmolested； endeavoured to persuade themselves that they were in possession of the place of battle。 But it was in vain thus to attempt； against their own secret and certain conviction； to deceive themselves； and even if they could have succeeded in this； the bonfires which the Arabs kindled along the whole coast； and over the country； for the three following nights； would soon have undeceived them。 Thousands of Arabs and Egyptians lined the shore； and covered the house tops during the action； rejoicing in the destruction which had overtaken their invaders。 Long after the battle； innumerable bodies were seen floating about the bay； in spite of all the exertions which were made to sink them； as well from fear of pestilence as from the loathing and horror which the sight occasioned。 Great numbers were cast up upon the Isle of Bekier （Nelson's Island； as it has since been called）； and our sailors raised mounds of sand over them。 Even after an interval of nearly three years Dr。 Clarke saw them； and assisted in interring heaps of human bodies； which； having been thrown up by the sea where there were no jackals to devour them； presented a sight loathsome to humanity。 The shore； for an extent of four leagues； was covered with wreck； and the Arabs found employment for many days in burning on the beach the fragments which were cast up； for the sake of the iron。 Part of the ORIENT's main…mast was picked up by the SWIFTSURE。 Captain Hallowell ordered his carpenter to make a coffin of it； the iron； as well as the wood； was taken from the wreck of the same ship； it was finished as well and handsomely as the workman's skill and materials would permit； and Hallowell then sent it to the admiral with the following letter：〃Sir； I have taken the liberty of presenting you a coffin made from the main mast of L'ORIENT； that when you have finished your military career in this world you may be buried in one of your trophies。 But that that period may be far distant is the earnest wish of your sincere friend； Benjamin Hallowell。〃An offering so strange； and yet so suited to the occasion； was received by Nelson in the spirit with which it was sent。 As if he felt it good for him； now that he was at the summit of his wishes； to have death before his eyes； he ordered the coffin to be placed upright in his cabin。 Such a piece of furniture； however； was more suitable to his own feelings than to those of his guests and attendants； and an old favourite servant entreated him so earnestly to let it be removed； that at length he consented to have the coffin carried below； but he gave strict orders that it should be safely stowed； and reserved for the purpose for which its brave and worthy donor had designed it。
The victory was complete； but Nelson could not pursue it as he would have done for want of means。 Had he been provided with small craft； nothing could have prevented the destruction of the store…ships and transports in the port of Alexandria： four bomb…vessels would at that time have burned the whole in a few hours。 〃Were I to die this moment。〃 said he in his despatches to the Admiralty； 〃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。〃 He had also to bear up against great bodily suffering： the blow had so shaken his head； that from its constant and violent aching； and the perpetual sickness which accompanied the pain； he could scarcely persuade himself that the skull was not fractured。 Had it not been for Troubridge； Ball； Hood； and Hallowell； he declared that he should have sunk under the fatigue of refitting the squadron。 〃All；〃 he said； 〃had done well； but these officers were his supporters。〃 But； amidst his sufferings and exertions； Nelson could yet think of all the consequences of his victory； and that no advantage from it might be lost； he despatched an officer overland to India； with