Page:Authentic narrative of the proceedings of His Majesty's Squadron.pdf/19

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.

19

for the ſame at two o'clock this day, and he recommends every ship doing the ſame as soon as convenient.

"To the respective Captains of the Squadron."

At two o'clock accordingly on that day public service was performed on the quarter deck of the Vanguard, by the Rev. Mr. Cemyn, the other ships following the example of the Admiral, though perhaps not all at the same time.

This solemn act of gratitude to heaven seemed to make a very deep impression upon several of the prisoners, both officers and men, some of the former of whom remarked, "that it was no wonder we could preserve such order and discipline, when we could impress the minds of our men with such sentiments after a victory so great, and at a moment of such seeming confusion."

On the same day the following Memorandum was issued to all the ships, expressive of the Admiral's sentiments of the noble exertions of the different officersand men of his squadron.

"Vanguard, 2d day of August, 1798, off the Mouth of the Nile.

"The Admiral most heartily congratulates the Captains Officers, Seamen and Marines of the squadron he has the the honour to command, on the event of the late Action; and he desires they will accept his most sincere and cordial Thanks for their very gallant behaviour in this glorious Battle. It must strike forcibly every British Seaman, how ſuperior their conduct is, when in discipline and good order, to the riotous behaviour of lawless Frenchmen.

"The Squadron may be assured the Admiral will not fail, with his Dispatches, to represent their truly meriterious conduct in the strongest terms to the Commander in Chief.

"To the Captains of the Ships of the Squadron."

The praise expressed in this memorandum could not fail to be highly acceptable and gratifying to every individual in the squadron; and the observation which it endeavoured to impress upon the minds of all, of the striking advantages derived from discipline and goodorder,