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The British force engaged consisted of twelve ships of 74 guns, and the Leander, of 50.
From the over anxiety and zeal of Captain Troubridge to get into action, his ship, the Culloden, in standing in for the van of the enemy's line, unfortunately grounded upon the tail of a shoal running off from the island, on which were the mortar and gun batteries of the enemy; and notwithstanding all the exertions of that able officer and his ship's company, she could not be got off. This unfortunate circumstance was severely felt at the moment by the Admiral and all the officers of the squadron; but their feelings were nothing compared to the anxiety and even anguish of mind which the Captain of the Culloden himself experienced, for so many eventful hours. There was but one consolation that could offer itself to him in the midst of the distresses of his situation, a feeble one it is true—that his ship served as a beacon for three other ships, viz. the Alexander, Theseus, and Leander, which were advancing with all possible sail set close in his rear, and which otherwise might have experienced a similar misfortune, and thus in a greater proportion still, have weakened our force.
It was not till the morning of the 2d, that the Culloden could be go off, and it was found she had suffered very considerable damage in her bottom; that her rudder was beat oft, and the crew could scarcely keep her afloat with all pumps going.
The resources of Captain Troubridge's mind availed him much, and were admirably exerted upon this trying occasion. In four days he had a new rudder made upon his own deck, which was immediately shipped; and the Culloden was again in a state for actual service, though still very leaky.
The Admiral, knowing that the wounded of his own ship had been well taken tare of, bent his first attention to those of the enemy. He established a Truce with the commandant of Aboukir, and through him made a communication to the commandant of Alexandria, that itwas
