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between them and the land, they would absolutely have been victorious. Of this last opinion was poor Brneys himself. In a letter to the minister of Marine at Paris, he says, “ That he considers his situation so impregnable, that if the whole navy of England were to come to the attack, they could make no impression on his line.”
The rejoicings in Britain for this memorable victory, were fully proportioned to its importance, every village, every hamlet blazed with the light of triumph, illuminations followed illuminations in the different towns throughout the united kingdom. In short, the enthusiasm which prevailed was universal.
Battle of Alexandria.
Two years after this great naval battle, the celebrated bay of Aboukir presented another spectacle, not less glorious, In the year 1800, a British fleet, having on board an army of 13,000 men, commanded by Sir Ralph Abercomby, were dispatched to Egypt to oppose the progress of the French arms in that country. This fleet came to anchor in Aboukir Bay, on the spot where the battle of the Nile had been fought. On the arrival of the fleet, the bay presented a spectacle which might well have appalled the stoutest heart, and damped the courage of the bravest troops in the world. The British soldiers saw from their ships, and saw without quailing, the head of the bay which rose like an amphitheatre, crowned with cannon and covered with the enemy from the beach to the summit. Undismayed by this formidable sight, it was determined that the troops should laud in the very teeth of this array,
