Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v1p1.djvu/213

latter number her brave commander, who received a severe contusion on the side, notwithstanding which he refused the

several gun-boats, and a battery of guns and mortars on an island in their van.

---

[footnote: French line-of-battle, with remarks, showing at one view the result of the combat that ensued.

	Guns.
Guerrier	74		Captain Trullet.– The van ship, taken, and burnt, being unfit for service.
Conquérant	74		Dalbarade.– Taken, and sent to England.
Spartiate	74		Maurice-Julian Emeriau.– Taken, and sent to England.
Aquilon	74		Thévenard.– Taken, and sent to England.
Peuple-Souverain	74		Racors.– Taken, and sent to Gibraltar, where she was converted into a guardship.
Franklin	80	$\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	Rear-Admiral Blanquet, second in command Captain Gillet.	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	Taken, and sent to England.
Orient	120	$\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	Admiral Brueys, Commander-in-Chief Rear-Admiral Ganteaume. Captain Casa-Bianca.	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	Took fire during the action, and blew up.
Tonnant	80		Du Petit-Thouars.– Taken, and sent to England.
Heureux	74		Jean-Pierre Etienne.– Taken, and burnt, being unfit for service.
Mercure	74		Lalonde.– Taken, and burnt, being unfit for service.
Guillaume Tell	80	$\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	Rear-Admiral Villeneuve, third in command. Captain Saunier.	$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$	Escaped
Généreux	74		Lejoille. Escaped.
Timoléon	74		Trullet.– Burnt by her crew.

N.B. The battery on Aboukir island, mounting four 12-pounders, several smaller guns, and two 13-inch mortars, was destroyed on the 8th, and the brass ordnance taken on board the British ships.]

---

Disregarding the advantageous position of the enemy, as well as their superiority of metal, Rear-Admiral Nelson decided for an immediate attack; and the more effectually to surround and engage one part of their fleet, while the rest remained unemployed, and of no service, some of the British ships ran between those of the French and the shore. Unfortunately, in standing into the bay the Culloden struck upon a shoal, and to the mortification of her gallant officers and crew, could not be got off in